French Resistance Drama 'Moulin' Impresses but Plays It Safe

Cannes, France – Director László Nemes, known for his Oscar-winning Holocaust film "Son of Saul," returns to the Cannes Film Festival with "Moulin," a drama about French resistance hero Jean Moulin. The film depicts Moulin's torture by Nazi officer Klaus Barbie and his refusal to break. Nemes’s latest work is well-crafted and emotionally stirring, but critics note it is surprisingly conventional. Unlike his earlier, more experimental films, "Moulin" uses a standard style of acting, directing, and storytelling. The movie is shot in muted, sepia tones that resemble old photographs. The film focuses on Moulin’s heroism and the French resistance. Its tone is closer to a 1970s BBC TV show than to classic resistance films like Jean-Pierre Melville’s "Army of Shadows." The final scene is sentimentally moving, though Nemes adds a brief, dark hint of the death camps to balance it. Despite its traditional approach, the film benefits from Nemes's expert craftsmanship, strong performances, and detailed production design.