Tarantino has tackled many different types of film genres in his career and this is his own personal take on the World War II genre. The long and somewhat conventional film drew mixed reactions at its initial press screening but is sure to sell out at the box office with Brad Pitt and other star power together with the Tarantino name behind it.
The story which unfolds in chapters takes place during the German occupation of France. Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa. Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Aldo Raine organizes a group of Jewish American soldiers to perform swift, shocking acts of retribution. Raine's squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich.
All the action meets up at Shosanna's cinema which allows Tarantino to play some neat visual tricks. The film abounds in typical Tarantino's long dialogues and might have benefited from being shorter but it is saved by some fine performances especially the German actor Christoph Waltz.
Speaking about why he chose to open the film in Cannes Tarantino said the premier the film in Cannes had been his goal from the very beginning of the project. "It was my dream," he said speaking at the press conference, " There is no where else like Cannes. During this time on the Riviera cinema really matters, it means something. I don't make American films, I make films for the whole planet, and during this time the whole of the planet earth are here."
Tarantino talked about the passion for film that there is during the festival and that having all the world's film critics gathered together in one place was important for him.
Credits
Quentin TARANTINO - Director
Quentin TARANTINO - Screenplay
Bob RICHARDSON - Cinematography
David WASCO - Set Designer
Sally MENKE - Film Editor
Actors
Daniel BRÜHL - Frederic Zoller
Michael FASSBENDER - LT. Archie Hicox
Diane KRUGER - Bridget Von Hammersmark
Mélanie LAURENT - Shosanna
Brad PITT - Lt Aldo Raine
Eli ROTH - Donny Donowitz
Til SCHWEIGER - Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz
Christoph WALTZ - Colonel Landa
