“A lovely, sentimental reminiscence of childhood in wartime.” (New York Times)
The re-release of one of the most beloved Jewish-themed films of the last 50 years, which still speaks timelessly. A poignant tale of improbable human connection under grim circumstances, director Claude Berri’s semi-autobiographical The Two of Us stars Alain Cohen as the mischievous but adorable eight-year-old Parisian, Claude, who has been sent by his parents to live with an elderly Catholic couple until France’s liberation. Forced to hide his true identity, Claude bonds with the irascible, staunchly anti-Semitic grandpa (Michel Simon), who surprisingly becomes his friend and confidant. Bittersweet and lighthearted, The Two of Us was Claude Berri’s (Jean de Florette) debut feature and gave the legendary Simon (The Passion of Joan of Arc) one of his most memorable roles in the twilight of his career. This year’s WJFF offers the perfect opportunity to revisit this perennial favorite.