The story of Sarah’s Key, based on the book by Tatiana de Rosnay, revolves around an American journalist, Julia Jarmond played by Kristin Scott Thomas, who ends up entangled in her research about the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup in France, 1942. She uncovers the story of a girl named Sarah with an increasing interest in the girl’s past as it slowly twists into Julia’s future.
Five Reasons To See The Film That Left The Whole Audience In Tears.
1. On this journalist’s hunt for truth, we don’t just see her journey into a dark past—we get glimpses of her present. The film is constantly switching from Sarah’s story to Julia’s, something that keeps the momentum of the film rolling while giving the viewers something of an emotional break. The film doesn’t let you get lost in the past, rather it pulls you into the present to make it that much more real.
2. Have you ever left a movie feeling like you have truly seen a work of art? The director, Gilles Paquet-Brenner, infused his film with striking scenes that are at once simple and heartbreaking.
3. The movies on World War Two are endless. But Sarah’s Key tells a unique story from the French perspective rather than the German. Although there are other films and documentaries on the Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup, this movie lends a personal story to really illuminate the ramifications of this dark chapter in French history.
4. The acting is incredible. In the second half of the film, the older Sarah, played by Charlotte Poutrel, didn’t say one word. This character was a testament to the power of acting, as she delivers stabs of passion and emotion with just one look.
5. The story needs to be told. As survivors of World War II slowly become fewer in number, it becomes as important as ever to keep the story alive. After watching a film like this, as you leave the theater the story leaves with you, and lives within you, forever.