THE WIDOW OF SAINT-PIERRE

English Title: THE WIDOW OF SAINT-PIERRE

The French possession of Saint-Pierre lies off the southern coast of Newfoundland and in 1849 the remote community witnessed a strange, true story of love, duty and honor, now dramatized in stately fashion by Patrice Leconte and top acting talents of the French film industry. Convicted of killing, illiterate fisherman Neel Auguste (Yugoslav filmmaker Emir Kusturica, in his acting debut) is sentenced to die under the laws of the Republic. But Saint-Pierre owns no guillotine – the only official method of capital punishment. The nearest must be brought by ship from the tropical island of Martinique. That will take nearly a year. During that time, Neel Auguste remains in the custody of Saint-Pierre's iron-willed but humane military captain (Daniel Auteuil); the officer's beloved, gentle wife (Juliette Binoche) puts the prisoner to work, unfettered, determined to prove that Auguste deserves better than the blade. At first the town is scandalized, but gradually the condemned man and his married protectors win over the hearts and minds of the populace. But the guillotine is still on its way, coming closer with every tide . . . From “Dead Man Walking” to “Throne of Death” (24th CIFF , 2000) international filmmakers have addressed the ironies of state-sanctioned murder. Now Patrice Leconte adds his voice, and in doing so creates an immortal tale of courage and compassion. (In French and English subtitles)