Currently, finding fresh stories with the theme of World War II seems difficult, as there are already hundreds of films in this category spanning various genres. “Resistance” attempts to explore new opportunities through the life of its main character, a mime artist. This biographical film, set in wartime, focuses on the legendary artist Marcel Marceau, portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg. The cast also includes Ed Harris, Clémence Poésy, Edgar Ramirez, and Matthias Schweighöfer.
Marcel (Eisenberg) is a mime artist whose father insists that he always prioritizes himself, especially during wartime. Living in a French border town just one mile from territory occupied by the Nazis, Marcel becomes a fighter, saving thousands of Jewish children from areas affected by World War II. His artistic talent proves crucial in entertaining the children at the shelter. However, as the political conditions worsen, residents are forced to leave the city, including the orphaned children. Marcel and his colleagues must take on the responsibility of protecting the children while navigating the dangers posed by the Nazis.
The story begins on an interesting note, but as it progresses, the plot becomes somewhat directionless. Instead of emphasizing the story of saving the children, it shifts towards Marcel’s ambition to join the underground Nazi resistance group. While based on a real incident involving Marcel, the focus appears inconsistent in the plot development. The initial conflict with the children seems to be forgotten, overshadowed by the introduction of a ruthless Gestapo figure named Klaus Barbie. Marcel’s role feels weak in the latter half of the film, with Barbie’s character stealing the spotlight. Notably, Matthias Schweighöfer’s portrayal of the antagonist is more impressive than Eisenberg’s performance.
Despite the weak and directionless storyline, the film shines in its use of authentic settings. The on-location shots, particularly those at the train station and central square of Lyon, stand out. However, apart from these settings, the film lacks other notable features. The technical aspects are relatively standard. Memorable scenes, such as Marcel entertaining the children and the interruption of the church choir by Barbie in an empty swimming pool, showcase the film’s potential. It is perplexing why such classy scenes are not more prevalent. The closing scene on stage, intended to be touching, feels anticlimactic and fails to leave a lasting impression.
“Resistance” introduces a fresh story idea set in World War II, but the execution of the script is too broad, resulting in an inconsistent narrative. The film’s title, “Resistance,” doesn’t quite fit, and the story fails to adequately represent this theme. Additionally, there might be other actors better suited to portray an iconic figure as significant as Marcel. Eisenberg’s European accent also sounds somewhat odd and deviates from his native (US) accent. Overall, it is regrettable that the film fails to fully utilize the potential of its unique story and the iconic character of Marcel Marceau. Marcel deserved a more impactful portrayal.
Akan lbh bagus jika resensi film berikut penilaiannya tdk melulu hanya dari sisi filmografinya. Apalagi ini film sejarah yg didedikasikan utk tokoh & peristiwa nyata. Byk hal yg bisa dihayati dr film semacam ini.
Klo sy si tk kasi nilai 99. Pokok e film nya niat bikinnya, actor, setting, dll & bisa menyampaikan informasi berikut pembelajaran pesannya maka film itu layak dinilai bagus. Apalagi yg sanggup bikin penontonnya jd penasaran googling ttg kisah sebenarnya.
Salam sejarah..
Terima kasih sebelumnya atas responnya,
Pembahasan dan ulasan film kami memang lebih banyak menekankan pada sisi naratif dan filmografinya karena kompetensi para penulis kami semua ada di bidang ini. Film menurut kami, tidak hanya melulu mampu menampilkan kisah yang bagus, tapi juga bagaimana film tersebut dikemas secara filmis. Semua ulasan pasti punya ciri khasnya masing-masing dan mustahil bisa mencakup semua sisi dalam sebuah film. Penulis yang mempunyai latar sejarah kuat, terlebih untuk satu tokoh dalam sebuah film biografi, tentu akan lebih kuat membahas sang tokoh. Itu mengapa, banyak ulasan tentang sebuah film akan semakin baik pula bagi pengembangan seni film. Jika sebuah film kami nilai buruk, bukan lantas berarti film itu buruk, namun untuk genrenya bisa jadi film tersebut sudah terlalu umum. Demikian penjelasan kami. terima kasih. Salam film.