Monsieur Batignole is an interesting film – it tries something different for a WWII piece – making it a refreshing change.
The choices he then makes, when physically confronted with the side effects of his actions, define him. He makes us consider how we would respond in such a situation… with courage and leadership, or by going with the flow? It is only in being forced to decide for himself, that he fully becomes himself, rather than hiding behind the actions of his bossy wife and devious “son-in-law”. His conversion from apathy to ownership of the problems the Jews of Europe faced is a moving one.
Technically, this film is competently shot and edited. The acting of the children is, at times, trying, but in some respects they were written that way. The relationship between M. Batignole and Simon is played beautifully by Sitruk and Jugnot.
Monsieur Batignole is definitely worth seeing, and gives a new twist, to me at least, on the WWII genre, whilst also allowing us to witness the father-son relationship in another form. Moving, at times funny, at times sad, this film comes highly recommended.