Here is an intelligent, low-key late work from German director Volker Schlöndorff (who began his film-making career in France as assistant to Louis Malle) that tackles a subject of great moment to French and Germans alike: the decision by the Nazi governor not to destroy Paris at the end of the second world war, as the Allied powers close in. Adapted from a play by Cyril Gély, this is virtually a two-hander: André Dussollier plays Raoul Nordling, the Francophile Swedish consul who sneaks into the German HQ at the Hotel Meurice to try and persuade General von Choltitz (Niels Arestrup) not to carry out Hitler’s infamous order to flatten the city. Largely taking place in a single room, Gely and Schlöndorff’s imagining of the encounter is full of adroit power plays, following the Nuremberg trials question of whether to obey orders at all costs Though it’s hard to disguise the piece’s stage origins, Schlöndorff’s light touch behind the camera, and the relaxed, substantial performances from the two leads means the film never gets bogged down – even if it’s somewhat forgiving towards Choltitz’s pre-Paris activities during the German invasion of Russia. Still, a highly civilised piece of work.
