Les Routes du sud (1978) - film review

It is 1975.  The Spanish dictator Franco is dying, but his regime still holds on to power.  Amongst those who support the communist resistance against Franco are Jean and Eve, exiles living in France.  The couple are enjoying a holiday with their twenty-something son Laurent when Eve is called to Spain to participate in some clandestine activity.  This creates friction between Jean and Laurent, the latter vehemently criticising his father for adhering what he sees as a futile cause.  Their relationship worsens when Eve is subsequent reported to have been killed in a road accident...

This dry political thriller raises interesting questions such as the value of adhering to a cause when that cause wins by default.  In this case, the Franco regime collapses not because of resistance activity but because of Franco’s death.  In such a situation, do opponents of a regime persist because they genuinely believe in their cause or purely out of habit, to keep alive some nostalgic past?

However, despite some atmospheric camera work, the film lacks momentum and clarity of purpose and singularly fails to engage the viewer.  Yves Montand seems to be the only member of the cast who has been well chosen for the part he plays.  No other character in the film has credibility or much to contribute.

Overall, this is a heavy, unsatisfying film which fails to build on what is surely a well-conceived central theme.

© James Travers 2000

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