T.rat from autobiographical novel by Romain Gary, The promise of dawn – broadcast tonight on the first TV on Rai 3 at 21.25 – is a touching one Bildungsroman with the new star of French cinema Pierre Niney and the splendid Charlotte Gainsbourg.
But the film (released in 2017) doesn’t just tell the moving story of a tormented and symbiotic relationship between mother and childand also an incredible journey that also crosses the history of the twentieth century. From Nazi-occupied Poland to Mexico, via Africa to 1960s France.
The promise of dawn: the plot of the movie
Poland, 1930s. Nina Kacew (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is one irascible and tenacious woman who raises little Romain alone, so he dreams of a future as a writer, given the child’s literary skills. With anti-Semitism advancing ambitions are set aside for an escape in the South of Francewhere they live hardly in Nice.
Even in the midst of difficulties, Nina continues to be a strong presence and suffocating for Romain, who feels suffocated by so much love. When he reached his twenties, in the middle of the Second World War, the boy he enlisted in aviation, although he never stopped writing. Also not to disappoint the maternal ambitions.
In later years, the life of adult Romani (Pierre Niney) becomes a sequence of daring events, avidly consumed passions and mysteries, until the conquest of the fame dreamed of by mum. He is still the only French writer to have obtained twice the Goncourt Prize. The first time in 1956, for The roots of heavenand the second time in 1975 under the pseudonym of Émile Ajarfor Life ahead of him. Book, the latter, from which two films have been taken, the last with Sophia Loren (available on Netflix).
Married to the icon of the Nouvelle Vague Jean Sebergfrom whom he divorced, commits suicide one year after the death of his ex-wife (who also died of suicide).
An extraordinary mother-child relationship
Taken from the namesake autobiographical novel by Romain Garywritten in the 1960s and published in Italy by Neri Pozza, The promise of dawn consists of two distinct timelines that travel continuously between past and present. Thank you using flashbacks, the protagonist traces the years of childhood in order to “resurrect” the figure of the mother. Beloved albeit bulky.
And it is right on mom-son relationship which director Eric Barbier places emphasis. Analyzing both the ambition that the woman poured into the childis the dedication of a child in pleasing the only parenting point of reference in his life.
Pierre Niney is an adult Romain in “The Promise of Dawn”.
But how does this symbiotic relationship arise? For the writer it all goes back to when child helplessly witnesses violence against his mothermoment in which its only purpose is to protect it – and above all to make her happy. Despite the thousand ups and downs that she will have to face around the world.
The film therefore it’s not a classic biopicit’s more an adventure movie.
Because Romain’s life was like a novel, almost to the limits of the picaresquewhich the director translates as the utmost respect for the literary text. AND the exceptional vitalism of the performersespecially of Charlotte Gainsbourgabsolutely exemplary.
An unprecedented role for Charlotte Gainsbourg
For the star of (not only) French cinema, Nina’s role was further confirmation of a unique versatility. Used to a bit cursed roles like muse of controversial directors – one above all Lars Von Trier –Charlotte took a leap forward thanks to The promise of dawn.
Identifying himself so much with the exuberant character to the point of – despite the film being shot in French – learn Polish; Why the protagonist’s mother had a very strong accent.
Engaged with Matt Dillon on the set of An ocean apart, where she plays Simone De Beauvoir, in Italy it will be seen shortly in the documentary Jane By Charlottededicated to beloved mom Jane Birkin. Charlotte’s first time behind the camera.
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