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Health & Fitness

Sarah's Key Returns to Theaters For an Oscar Run

Nazi-occupied France and a family mystery push Kristin Scott Thomas for answers in the film Sarah's Key.

The French-produced film Sarah’s Key is being re-released this month for an Oscar push after a successful run in theaters this summer.  It grossed over $7 million, which is a pretty healthy sum for a mostly foreign language film. 

It stars British actress Kristin Scott Thomas as Julia, a journalist investigating the rounding-up of Jews in France during World War II.  Early on she discovers that the apartment her in-laws own was home to one of those Jewish families.  The film then flashes back to a young Sarah in 1942 just as she and her parents are forced into concentration camps.  Sarah holds a key to a secret room in the home where her younger brother hides awaiting their return.

Back to present time Julia goes on an all-out search for any details as to the Sarah’s whereabouts.  She travels between France, Brooklyn, and Italy, slowly gaining valuable facts.

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Sarah’s story is presented with the inclusion of several on-going flashbacks.  Most of these scenes work quite well and probably represent the best parts of the film.  There are a few leaps near the end where the investigation has hit a major roadblock and Julia has seemingly given up the search.  The point of view shifts to a relative of Sarah’s where more details are revealed.

The problem I had with this is that Julia’s withdrawal from her quest seems a bit out of character given her earlier obsession.  Of course, it’s never really clear just why she is so consumed with this story anyway.  It is certainly compelling, but Julia gives up quite a bit of her life to ultimately settle for a dead-end.  The story does eventually continue though with a resolution that may be a bit convenient but it will no doubt make some audience members weep. 

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Generally the film will work for anyone interested in the uncovering of family mysteries, as well as those partial to Holocaust-themed stories.  There are many of them and while this one might not measure up to the power of Schindler’s List and The Pianist it is intriguing nonetheless.  I’m not sure the film will gain much awards attention but it will enthrall those particularly interested in such mystery-themed narratives.  Sarah’s Key is currently playing locally at Cinemark's Tinseltown Theater in North Aurora and on cable On Demand. 

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