The movie Monsieur Batignole is a period drama set in occupied Paris during World War II. The film follows the story of Edmond Batignole, a grocer who tries to navigate his way through the complex and treacherous political landscape of wartime France.
As the movie opens, Batignole is depicted as a man who is content with his life and who tries to stay out of politics. He has a wife and a daughter, and he runs his grocery business in a modest and unassuming manner. However, everything changes when he is confronted with the reality of the Nazi occupation.
The turning point comes when Batignole's future son-in-law, Pierre-Jean Lamour, informs the Germans about the Bernstein family, who are Jewish immigrants. The Bernsteins are arrested and their apartment is confiscated, but their young son Simon manages to escape and finds his way back to Batignole's grocery store.
Batignole is initially hesitant to help Simon, as he is afraid of the consequences of aiding a Jewish child. However, as he gets to know the boy, he realizes that he can't turn him away. He decides to take Simon in and hide him from Pierre-Jean and his own wife, who are both sympathetic to the Nazi cause.
As the story unfolds, Batignole becomes increasingly involved in the resistance effort. He helps other Jewish families, and even smuggles some of them out of the country to safety. His actions put him at great risk, but he is motivated by a sense of compassion and a belief in doing what is right.
The movie culminates in a tense and dramatic escape sequence, as Batignole tries to take Simon and his cousins to safety in Switzerland. The journey is fraught with danger, and the group must navigate through checkpoints and avoid being caught by the German soldiers.
Overall, the movie Monsieur Batignole is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of morality, courage, and the human capacity for compassion in the face of adversity. It is a tribute to the ordinary people who stood up against fascism during one of the darkest periods in human history.
