France, 1809 and the dashing Capitaine Charles-Grégoire Neuville has just become engaged to the young Pauline when he is called away to the front. He promises that he will write every day, but he does not. The impressionable Pauline hysterically falls ill with pneumonia. He is, after all, her first love and there is little news from the war front. The doctor warns she will not get better unless she has a will to live.  Her sister writes letters on his behalf to cheer her up.  All goes south when Neuville reappears.  Played at COLCOA French Festival 2018.

Starring: Jean Dujardin (“The Artist”), Melanie Laurent (“Inglorious Bastards”) and Noemie Merlant (“Heaven Will Wait”)

Director: Laurent Tirard
Writers: Laurent Tirard|Grégoire Vigneron
Genre: Comedy|History
Running Time: 90 minutes
Distributor: Distrib Films US
Country: Belgium, France
Language: French w|English Subtitles
Rating: N|R
Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKwcWAdmzxY

FESTIVALS: France, COLCOA French Festival; UK, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Foyle Film Festival, Ireland; Australia, Gold Coast IFF; USA: SIFF, Seattle, WA, Boston French Film Festival, Boston, MA; Germany, Munich Film Festival; China, Shanghai IFF

“Return of the Hero seems like a routine corset costume romp, but there’s a moment when the devastating truth is revealed and the tragedy of war confronted.” … Pasadena Art & Science Beat

“There are shades of Pride and Prejudice in the latest film from writer-director Laurent Tirard (The Story of My Life, Molière), not least in the naming of its heroine, and the film is a delight from start to finish.. ….”TIME OUT