Le Voyageur sans bagages (1944)
Directed by Jean Anouilh

Film Synopsis

Gaston is one of the casualties of the so-called 'war to end all wars'.  His body survived the carnage of the WWI battlefields but his mind was irreparably damaged.  For the past decade and a half, he has been confined to a psychiatric hospital, his past a complete blank to him.  He doesn't know who he is or where he came from.  He is a complete stranger to himself.  During these fifteen years, without knowing it, Gaston has become quite a wealthy man.  Thanks in part to the efforts of a noted philanthropist, the Duchess Dupont-Dufort, his disability pension has increased significantly in value and is now worth a very tidy sum.  Gaston is now sufficiently recovered to lead an independent life, but he is keen to be reunited with his family.

Again thanks to the Duchess's efforts, five possible families have been identified who might be related to the war veteran.  The most promising of these are the Renauds, a wealthy family who live on a large estate in the country.  Without delay, Gaston is introduced to the Renauds, who do their best to revive dormant memories of his past.  It is possible that Gaston could be Madame Renaud's missing son Jacques, but doubts remain on both sides.  From what he hears about Jacques Renaud, a far from pleasant individual, Gaston is horrified.  This is nothing like how Gaston sees himself now.  If it is true that he is Jacques then the experience of war must have changed him beyond all recognition...