#47. Arnaud des Pallieres’ Michael Kohlhaas
Gist: This is an adaptation of Heinrich Von Kleist 1811 novella of the same name. Set in the sixteenth century somewhere in the Cévennes, Michael Kohlhaas is a prosperous horse merchant leading a happy and simple family life. A fantastic quest for justice, the book – and therefore, probably, film – is an existential chronicle of one man’s leadership and rise to protect his community.
Prediction: Set for a domestic release in early July, here’s an historical epic that could really wind up in any of the major sections. Bertrand Tavernier’s The Princess of Montpensier is the closest recent film in spirit and scope, and that competed for the Palme, but then Arnaud des Pallieres isn’t exactly a major dude yet, so anything better than Un Certain Regard would be quite the gesture on Thierry’s part. The film does star last year’s Best Actor winner Mads Mikkelsen and Best Actor snubee Denis Lavant, so the star power may help give it that extra push.
