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In times of war, a poor woodcutter and his wife live in a vast forest. One day, the woman finds and rescues a baby girl, bringing irrevocable changes to the lives of the couple and those whose paths the child will cross. This is Michel Hazanavicius’ first animated film. The Second World War is one of humanity’s darkest moments. A time when humanity simply resigned itself to the grey of war, where the world witnessed the extent of human cruelty. A time when the promise was rebirth, redemption and peace. The hand of Faith has just struck Europe in its most horrific form, the imposing debt of a great war and a lost generation hanging over it. The world has stopped, not because of Schick, or at least not only because of him, but because of what lies beneath. Ahead of what is the world’s greatest tragedy to date, lies an increasingly bleak future. Germany lay in ruins, having just lost a war, the faith of its people and the power of its empire. Vengeance was sworn for the humiliation. A few years after that remarkably dark time, there lived a humble, old German carpenter couple. The man goes to cut down large trees and the woman ties the small branches together. They both work hard for a day to reach a small house in the middle of the forest where their soup and a tired old dog await. Never having had a child, the woman begs for everything in her, having either abandoned God or never having caught up with him. She begs the sky, the wood, and even the train gods for a train. And one day the train gods answer her prayers. In that empty corner of the forest, a train makes its way through the white winter snow, slowly but grumpily reaching its dreaded destination. And one day a baby is thrown from the train only for the old wood woman to catch it. A cruel thing to some, but not to her. What follows is a beautifully crafted tragedy, a tale of humanity: the loving force within her that builds and sacrifices, and her inherently evil side that avenges and repays. Michel Hazanavicius’ animated film borrows a very comedic style that places him in the heart of an enchanted forest, and along with its quirky cast of characters and the bleak backdrop of World War II, it is one of the best tearjerkers of the year. A beautiful farewell to the illustrious career of Jean Louis Trintignant.
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