Japan / Jun 23, 2002 / French Film Festival
Overall average
5.0/10
Plot
In 1942, in an occupied Paris, the apolitical grocer Edmond Batignole lives with his wife and daughter in a small apartment in the building of his grocery. When his future son-in-law and collaborator of the German Pierre-Jean Lamour calls the Nazis to arrest the Jewish Bernstein family, they move to the confiscated apartment. Some days later, the young Simon Bernstein escapes from the Germans and comes to his former home. When Batignole finds him, he feels sorry for the boy and lodges him, hiding Simon from Pierre-Jean and also from his wife. Later, two cousins of Simon meet him in the cellar of the grocery. When Pierre-Jean finds the children, Batignole decides to travel with the children to Switzerland.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Götz Burger | SS Col. Spreich |
| Élisabeth Commelin | Irène |
| Hubert Saint-Macary | Gendarmerie lieutenant |
| Daniel Martin | Brigadier Albert |
| Nadine Spinoza | Rachel Bernstein |
| Damien Jouillerot | Martin |
| Philippe du Janerand | René, administrator |
| Marie-Gaëlle Cals | Edwige |
| Flannan Obé | Paul |
| Karine Pinoteau | Nurse on the train |
| Didier Lafaye | Village informant |
| Christophe Rouzaud | Village priest |
| Sylvie Herbert | Cohens' concierge in Montmartre |
| Roland Marchisio | Deposit keeper |
| Arthur Jugnot | Arthur |
| Eric Civanyan | Gallery owner |
| Michel Dodane | Neighbor on the train |
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| Karina Marimon | Neighbor on the train |
| Ticky Holgado | Lucien Morel |
| Sam Karmann | Max Bernstein |
| Jean-Marie Winling | Sacha Guitry |
| Yves Lavandier | Léon Batignole |
| Till Bahlmann | Soldier at the Station (uncredited) |
| Ursula Deuker | Secretary of Spreich (uncredited) |
| Thierry Heckendorn | Commissioner (uncredited) |
| Marie-Hélène Lentini | Mrs. Taillepied (uncredited) |
| Eric Moreau | Server (uncredited) |
| Wolfgang Pissors | Suspicious SS soldier (uncredited) |
| Jörg Schnass | SS soldier (uncredited) |
| Michel Scourneau | (uncredited) |
Genres
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Monsieur Batignole |
| Original language | Français (FR) |
| Spoken languages | Français |
| Production countries | France |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | TF1 Films Production, Novo Arturo Films, RF2K Productions, Turkhoise |
| Release date | 6 marzo 2002 |
| Production | Dominique Farrugia, Gérard Jugnot, Olivier Granier |
| Writer | Gérard Jugnot, Philippe Lopes-Curval |
| Casting | Sandra Mainguené, Françoise Menidrey |
| Editing | Catherine Kelber |
| Cinematography | Gérard Simon, Nicolas Herdt |
| Assistant directors | Hervé Ruet, Gérard Jugnot, Laurence Couturier |
| Camera operators | Nicolas Herdt, Gérard Simon |
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| Additional photography | Gérard Simon, Nicolas Herdt |
| Production design | Jean-Louis Povéda |
| Art direction | Jean-Louis Povéda |
| Set decoration | Jean-Louis Povéda |
| Visual effects | Rodolphe Chabrier |
| Music | Khalil Chahine, Claude Villand, Michel Kharat, Jean Gargonne |
| Sound | Khalil Chahine, Claude Villand, Michel Kharat, Jean Gargonne |
| Costume design | Martine Rapin, Annie Thiellement, Gil Allan, Lucía Bretones-Méndez |
| Makeup | Gil Allan, Lucía Bretones-Méndez, Martine Rapin, Annie Thiellement |
| Hairstyling | Martine Rapin, Annie Thiellement, Gil Allan, Lucía Bretones-Méndez |
Release dates
Premiere
Norway / Oct 20, 2002 / Bergen International Film Festival
Limited release
Japan / Jan 11, 2003 / Tokyo
Theatrical release
Belgium / Mar 06, 2002
France / Mar 06, 2002 / U
Switzerland / Mar 06, 2002
Canada / Sep 20, 2002
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Italy / Oct 04, 2002
Portugal / Oct 25, 2002
United States / Oct 30, 2002
Israel / Apr 24, 2003
Australia / Jun 26, 2003
Mexico / Sep 05, 2003
Spain / Apr 29, 2005
Brazil / Jun 10, 2005 / 12
TV
Norway / Apr 21, 2004
Hungary / Sep 28, 2004
Finland / Dec 09, 2005
Sweden / May 12, 2007
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France / Feb 25, 2026 / 6ter
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