In the 16th century in the Cévennes, a horse dealer by the name of Michael Kohlhaas leads a happy family life. When a lord treats him unjustly, he raises an army and puts the country to fire and sword in order to have his rights restored.
Arnaud Des Pallières’ stodgy period drama.
Cloddy period stodge.
Director Arnaud des Pallières lends a bleak austerity to the story, but with only one murky battle scene to quicken the blood it’s hardly a recipe for unbridled excitement.
The plot here is similar to that of many full-blooded revenge westerns, but there is something alienating about the solemnity and detachment of the storytelling.
This classy and beautiful 16th-century period drama is determined, but it delivers less than it promises.
Even the excellent Mads Mikkelsen can't lift the tedium of this one-note French revenge saga.
This is about endurance not enjoyment — at least the characters are in the same boat.
The film is not with out merit, although it remains too much of a slow-burn to really catch fire as the gritty, medieval Euro western its set up promises.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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