Life and Nothing But
Life and Nothing But is a 1989 French film directed by Bertrand Tavernier. It was inspired by the novel by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare titled The General of [the Dead Army |The General of the Dead Army].
Synopsis
Set in October 1920, it tells the story of Major Delaplane, a man whose job is to find the identities of unknown dead soldiers after World War I. He encounters two women looking for their lost men: Irène, an aristocrat, and Alice, a country girl. The movie is a sensitive examination of the deep psychological scars left behind by the war, clear of sentiment yet with delicately nuanced irony.Cast
- Philippe Noiret - Commandant Delaplane
- Sabine Azéma - Irène de Courtil
- Pascale Vignal - Alice
- Maurice Barrier - Mercadot
- François Perrot - Capitaine Perrin
- Jean-Pol Dubois - André
- Frédéric Pierrot - Marcel
- Jean-Paul Comart - Fagot
- Daniel Russo - Lieutenant Trévise
- Michel Duchaussoy - Général Villerieux
- Pascal Elso - The blind
Production
Awards
The film was nominated for numerous awards. It won the BAFTA Award for [Best Film Not in the English Language]. It was also nominated for 11 César Awards, winning for Best Actor and Best Music.Other films based on the book
- The General of the Dead Army is a 1983 Italian film starring Michel Piccoli, based on the novel, directed by Luciano Tovoli.
- The [Return of the Dead Army |The Return of the Dead Army] is a 1989 Albanian film starring Bujar Lako, based on the novel, directed by Dhimitër Anagnosti.