Starring: Felix Bossuet, Tcheky Karyo, Margaux Chatelier
Distributor: Icon Films
Runtime: 104 mins. Reviewed in Jul 2014
| 
| 
What a pleasant surprise.
In a film which adults and children could enjoy, the audience is taken into the French Alps, on the border with Switzerland. And, not only are we taken there, we feel we are really in the midst of some rather breathtaking scenery, mountains, villages, the different seasons, the variety of animals found in the Alps. The director, Nicolas Vanier, has made something of a career of directing and photographing nature documentaries.
Even at the opening, with Cesar (Tcheky Karyo) and his grandson, Sebastien (Felix Bossuet) walking along the craggy edges of sheer cliffs, hearing shots where animals are killed and finding a small kid on the lower ledge needing rescue, Cesar lowering Sebastien down to retrieve the animal, quite a dizzying and difficult feat, we are immersed in the way of life of the people of the Alps.
Sebastien is only six, a good boy, pleasant but not cute in the American movie style. Cesar is something of an old grouch, a drinker, but devoted to his grandson. When it appears that the sheep are being taken by a huge dog, maltreated by its previous owners and now running loose and wild, the men of the village set out to shoot it. However, Sebastien has encountered the wild dog, pacified its, talk to it and has become a friend. The mountaineers have called it The Beast. After a short time with Sebastien, The Beast becomes Belle and human and dog – quite a huge white dog in fact – become firm friends, Sebastien even standing in front of Cesar’s rifle to protect Belle.
As a story about humans and dog, it will be a delight to those who have a passion for canine friends – and might also almost be a means of converting those would never see themselves as dog-lovers!
But that is not all. We are informed that it is 1943, and that means occupied France. It is gradually revealed that there is a squad of German soldiers in the village, making demands for supplies, especially bread, from the locals and, in secret, slaughtering some of the sheep for food. The other predators are wolves roaming the mountains. Cesar’s niece, Angelina (Margaux Cartelier) is the baker and the leader of the German squad is rather sweet on her.
As we might have been led to believe because of the occupation and the proximity of the Swiss border, the theme of leading Jewish refugees over the mountains becomes an important subplot, involving Angelina, the local doctor who serves as a guide, and even Sebastien and Belle. As one group is snowed in on Christmas Day, Belle saves the day by leading the group on a secure path.
The film is often strikingly beautiful to look at, landscapes to wonder at and admire. The characters are friendly but rugged, mountain people. And Belle, despite her fearsome first appearance, is a beautiful big dog and she and Sebastien are great friends.
12 Random Films…
