Le Ciel est à vous
1944 Drama   
 
Credits
  • Director: Jean Grémillon
  • Script: Charles Spaak, Albert Valentin
  • Photo: Roger Arrignon, Louis Page
  • Music: Roland Manuel
  • Cast: Madeleine Renaud (Thérèse Gauthier), Charles Vanel (Pierre Gauthier), Anne Vandène (Lucienne Ivry), Jean Debucourt (Larcher), Raymonde Vernay (Madame Brissard), Albert Rémy (Marcel), Léonce Corne (Le docteur Maulette), Robert Le Fort (Robert), Jacques Beauvais (La maître d'hôtel), Fernand Blot (Le vice-président), Marius David (Un invité à la présentation), Paul Demange (Petit), Michel François (Claude), Henry Houry (Un membre du conseil d'administration), Anne-Marie Labaye (Jacqueline), Bernard La Jarrige (Le mécano), Marcel Laporte (Le reporter), Pierre Leproux (Camille), Raoul Marco (Monsieur Noblet)
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Runtime: 105 min; B&W
  • Aka: The Sky Is Yours; The Woman Who Dared
 
 
 
Summary
Thérèse Gauthier becomes obsessed with flying when her husband, Pierre, a World War I pilot, gives her a trial flight at his air club.  Abandoning their comfortable family life and ignoring the hostility of their neighbours, they set about building an aeroplane which will enable Thérèse to break a long distance flying record.

Review
Considering that it was made during a bleak and distressing period for France, Le Ciel est à vous is an astonishingly uplifting film with a message of unfettered optimism.  It is not too difficult to read Grémillon’s allegorical call to arms behind the rather anodyne tale about a Lindbergh-esque exploit.  Although the film was a commercial failure for Grémillon, it earned a loyal following in some quarters (principally supporters of the French Resistance).  Even in a more cynical age, the film, with its direct, neorealist cinematography, has the ability to move its audience, thanks to its simple message about individual heroism and commitment to realising a shared dream.

© James Travers 2002


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