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Suite Française

A charmingly mildewed blend of romance and suspense

Respectfully adapted from the best-selling unfinished novel (just recently discovered) by Irène Némirovsky, who died in Auschwitz, this is the story of a romance between a married French woman (a headlining Michelle Williams) and an urbane, occupying Nazi officer, a composer before the war.

This unashamedly soapy, charmingly mildewed blend of romance and suspense is narratively clumsy in spots and occasionally resorts to a totally unnecessary voiceover. But Williams’ performance, expertly supported by Kristin Scott Thomas and Matthias Schoenaerts, makes this well worth a look. Japanese title: France Kumikyoku. (107 min)