The Return of Martin Guerre (1982)

Review by All Movie Guide
Daniel Vigne's Le Retour de Martin Guerre is a beguiling mystery of identity, memory, perception, and how the passage of time can blur all three. The key to its intrigue is the performance of Gerard Depardieu, whose alternately familiar and remote Martin keeps the audience flip flopping about whether to believe his story or distrust it. His character is occasionally greedy and shifty-eyed, which to some is evidence of his status as an impostor -- to others, these are traits displayed in spades by Martin before he left, and they aren't present enough for this to be the man himself. A slow beginning is quickly redeemed by the contentious debate that dominates the film, which produces mounting evidence on either side that this either must be or must not be Martin Guerre. Complicating matters are the repercussions on Martin's wife, played with long-suffering patience by Nathalie Baye, who, according to 16th century religious custom, would be damned to Hell if she had been mistakenly sleeping with a man other than her husband for years. The deliberations of the magistrates charged with settling the case are also fascinating. In keeping with Vigne's reputation as a perfectionist, the era is painstakingly re-created, and shot with style and beauty. The film also marks the screen debut of prominent French character actor Tcheky Karyo. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide