Le Mutin. A classic French film – tragic drama at its best from a golden time of global lockdown – recently unearthed, fragmented and smeared in chocolate, wine-damaged, behind a box-set of Homeland, and lovingly restored to partial glory.
Synopsis (spoiler alert): Twins, separated at birth, raised in different social milieus, find themselves serving in the same regiment abroad. On discovering the identity of his brother, a charming Capitaine with fine prospects and a beautiful Parisian fiancée, the poorer twin, a mere poilu caporal (that’s corporal in French), consumed with envy and jealous rivalry, plots his brother’s demise through mutiny. Yes, mutiny – that dreaded fear of the French officer class! The attempt, however, fails and he is mortally wounded. Or is he? The director leaves us questioning the true identity of the man returning to his distant homeland... and who really is the mysterious fiancée waiting for him…?