About The Last Metro

The Last Metro (Le dernier metro) is a French drama film directed by Francois Truffaut, released in 1980. The film is set during the German occupation of Paris during World War II. Centring around a theatre in the heart of Paris, the film tells the story of how the theatre's director Lucas Steiner, played by Heinz Bennent, secretly hides in the cellar while his wife Marion, played by Catherine Deneuve, runs the theatre and stars in its plays. The title The Last Metro refers to the fact that during the occupation, Parisians could only rely on the last metro of the day to get home safely.

Making / Production

Francois Truffaut, a leading figure in the French New Wave movement, directed and co-wrote the screenplay for The Last Metro. The film's production was marked by Truffaut's meticulous attention to historical details, creating a vivid portrayal of life in Paris during WWII. This realism is one of the film's distinguishing features, resulting in a moving and thought-provoking viewing experience.

Actors

• Catherine Deneuve as Marion Steiner: Deneuve delivers a powerful performance as the wife who must keep her husband's secret while running the theatre and performing in its productions.
• Heinz Bennent as Lucas Steiner: Despite being hidden from view, Bennent's character provides an emotional backbone for the film with his presence constantly felt.
• Gerard Depardieu as Bernard Granger: Young and passionate, Bernard Granger is a lead actor in the theater who develops a complex relationship with Marion.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This was the first time that Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu worked together.
• The film was a critical and commercial success in France, leading to 10 Cesar Award nominations.
• The film's title refers to the trains that were the last means of transport running before the curfew during the occupation.

Awards

The Last Metro was nominated for a number of awards, and won ten Cesar Awards, including Best Film, Best Actor for Depardieu, and Best Actress for Deneuve. The film was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.

Quotes

• "Playing in a theater under these conditions is heroic." Lucas Steiner
• "One must live with the time and the time is hell." Marion Steiner

Music, Soundtrack

• The poignant and evocative music for The Last Metro was provided by Georges Delerue, a longtime collaborator of Truffaut.