By Kate Rodger
British actor and long-time French resident Kristin Scott Thomas is superbly cast here, in this book to screen adaptation of the French novel.
Sarah’s Key is a story at first set in Paris during the Nazi occupation, the unimaginable events of which revisit another generation decades later.
The narrative here is woven into two separate strands of past and present, each as important as the other and both steeped in secrets and sadness.
Scott Thomas is an American journalist married to a Parisian. Her work opens the door onto a chapter in the city’s holocaust history which has unexpected personal ramifications for her, her family, and others she’s yet to meet.
As she unravels the past, the knowledge she gathers gives her reason to question her own choices, and the strength to make fresh ones.
I’ll see anything with Kristin Scott Thomas in it but this whole cast is excellent, particularly Aidan Quinn’s wonderfully nuanced performance. Yes this is a harrowing watch at times, but very rewarding.
Four stars.
3 News
Sarah's Key
:: Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner
:: Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Frédéric Pierrot, Mélusine Mayance, Michel Duchaussoy, Niels Arestrup, Dominique Frot
:: Running Time: 111 mins
:: Rating: M - contains adult themes
:: Release Date: April 14, 2011
