One of the best-acted films in recent memory.
Diplomacy
Grade: A
Director: Volker Schlondorff (The Tin Drum, The Handmaid’s Tale)
Screenplay: Cyril Gely (from his play), Schlondorff
Cast: Neils Arestup (War Horse), Andre Dussollier (Amelie)
Rating: NR
Runtime: 84 min
by John DeSando
“The dark outside world of Paris under German occupation exerted a strong containing pressure.” Gerard Debreu
In Diplomacy, the conflict between Nazi commander Dietrich von Cholitz (Niels Arestrup) and Swedish pacifist Raoul Nordling (Andre Dussollier) comes in 1944 as the Allies are marching on Paris. A vengeful, mad Hitler has ordered General von Cholitz, now acting as the mayor, to raze Paris. Consul Nordling from neutral Sweden has the daunting task of convincing this hardened German to spare the City of Light.
Adapted from Cyril Gely’s smash French play and directed by the acclaimed Volker Schlondorff, this inspired-by real events two hander superbly combines the high drama between polar opposite antagonists and the historical reality that Paris, an essentially non-strategic city, did not burn. How does the director keep a hardened critic like moi engrossed for 84 min? By employing dialogue as crisp and knowing as you could hope for in an adaptation and camera work that creates intimacy while emphasizing the big stake of Paris in the background. Diplomacy is one of the best-acted films I have seen in years.
The issue of saving the world’s most romantic city and von Cholitz’s own family, condemned if he fails to implement the order, gives energy to what could be a talkie bore. It helps that the lead actors are French veterans, among the best film actors in that country.
One of the genius twists is for von Cholitz to ask Nordling what he would do in von Cholitz’s shoes, thereby placing us directly in the action as we question ourselves if we would save Paris and its million and a half population or our spouses and children.
As these two historical figures fight it out to the last minute of the Occupation’s death, we are privy to their grand and small arguments. In the end diplomacy calls for Nordling’s talent to convince von Cholitz of his honesty and yet use unseen means to gain the goal of saving Paris.
We know he succeeds, so the next time you stand by the Arc de Triumph as that no-good Fuhrer so famously did, lift a glass of wine to the consul who saved a transcendent city just for you.
“Is Paris burning?” so allegedly asked Hitler of the general. Thank goodness diplomacy prevailed.
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts WCBE’s It’s Movie Time and co-hosts Cinema Classics. Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.rr.com
