DVD Review: Sarah's Key

Directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner, Sarah’s Key tells the story of a young girl, Sarah, as her family is torn apart by the Nazis following the ‘Vel’ d’Hiv Roundup’ which occurred in Paris in 1942. In the current day, is journalist Julia Jarmond (played by Kristen Scott Thomas) who also unravels the tale while researching the deported Jews for an article. As the narrative cuts between scenes from 1942 onwards and the present, the audience comes to learn how the events which happened on the day Sarah’s family were taken has affected many different people in the years since.
Sarah’s Key contains many touching scenes, which mainly revolve around the young Sarah as she makes her escape from a concentration camp. However, the connection between Sarah and Julia becomes slightly blown out of proportion and a sub-plot revolving around Julia’s marriage problems as she learns she is pregnant takes too much precedence. The film may have worked better if it had just focused on the past rather than both it and the present, and towards the end it does feel like the story takes far too long to wrap up.
Thomas is impressive in a bilingual role, where she converses in both French and English. This is an entertaining watch, but unlikely to be one you will want to revisit.

Rating: 4/5

Reviewer:Sophie Stephenson
Rated: PG (UK)
Release Date:28th November, 2011(UK)
Director:Gilles Paquet-Brenner
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup,