In the 16th century, Martin Guerre (Gérard Depardieu) returns home to his village after seven years away at war, demonstrating far more wisdom, strength of character, and tenderness than both the locals and wife (Nathalie Baye) remember him as having. Accusations of identity theft arise, landing the man she loves in court—while keeping the audience guessing. A real-life case that resonated throughout French history had already been turned into a book, play, and opera before producer-director Vigne enlisted the services of screenwriter Jean-Claude Carrière for this adaptation. With visuals drawn from Bruegel’s paintings, this richly textured drama won three César Awards and earned an Oscar nomination for Anne-Marie Marchand’s costume design. With future French cinema mainstays Tchéky Karyo and Dominique Pinon.

In French with English subtitles.

A Cohen Film Collection release.