‘A Bag of Marbles’ Review

In Canadian director Christian Duguay's French-made A Bag of Marbles, Dorian Le Clech and Batiste Fleurial take on the roles of young brothers fleeing the Nazi occupation in France during World War II. As brothers, Le Clech and Fleurial's repartee is utterly convincing, but even as you root for them to stay together; it feels as if there had been more obstacles to pull them apart, you might root for them even more.

Rookie actor Le Clech is outstanding as Jo. Expressive and deep-eyed, he carries the bulk of the film's emotional weight. But as the brothers' journey unfolds, it seems more and more as if they are simply lucky—ridiculously so. Not only is everyone they meet along the way willing to help by forging baptism certificates, hiding them and sacrificing themselves, the rest of their family—whom they of course thought they'd never see again—manages to meet up with them throughout the film with no repercussions.

This is supposed to be WWII, but most of the danger and tragedy seems to go on in the background while the brothers make new friends and romp through sun-filled meadows. Aside from a mere couple of truly suspenseful scenes, there is so little conflict, and the boys are so minimally involved, that what is meant to be the main tragedy—the arrest of their father—doesn't have nearly enough impact as it should.

Maurice tells his brother, "I'd carry you to the end of the world." But this promise, like many of the moments throughout the film, is heartwarming and little more, and would be even more so if there were real hardships to balance out the tenderness.

7
+ Riveting star; touching family relationships
– Not enough edge for its subject

A Bag of Marbles
Directed by Christian Duguay
With  Le Clech, Fleuriel and Bruel
Center for Contemporary Arts, NR, 110 min.

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