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DINNER
5pm - 1 1 pm
clef of the same title by the late
Catholic novelist Brian Moore, who
based his characters on two of the more
despicable figures of the Vichy regime.
Brossard is modeled on Paul
Touvier, who was pardoned by French
President Georges Pompidou but ulti-
mately became the only Frenchman
convicted of crimes against humanity.
Pulling the strings is a character
known only as the Old Man, repre-
senting Maurice Papon, who distin-
guished himself during the war by
interning and deporting French Jews.
After the liberation, Papon became a
banker and supporter of President
Francois Mitterand, was decorated
with the Legion of Honor in 1948 and
rose to become police prefect of Paris.
The cast includes some top-notch
British talent, among them Tilda
Swinton and Jeremy Northam as govern-
ment officials who crack the conspiracy,
and Alan Bates and Charlotte Rampling.
They all do their profession proud, but
the film is not entirely satisfying.
Surprisingly for a writer of
Harwood's caliber, parts of the dia-
logue sound stilted, especially some of
the pseudo-gangster talk. One also
wonders how the shaky, winded and
elderly Brossard repeatedly gets the
drop on young professional killers.
A more serious failure in a film.
billed as a psychological thriller is
the lack of insight into the motiva-
tions of Brossard — and of the
Vichy collaborators generally.
Did they hate Jews? Did they consid-
er themselves patriots? Were they ambi-
tious opportunists? The only explana-
tion comes from a Catholic bishop,
who excuses the collaborators because
they wanted to save France from the
greater scourge of communism.
Finally, the Catholic Church gets a
bad rap in the film. In contrast to
Rolf Hochhuth's The Deputy and
Costa-Gravas' Amen, there isn't a sin-
gle cardinal, bishop or priest in The
Statement who doesn't shield Nazi col-
laborators, give absolution to murder-
ers or put the Church's reputation
above human decency.
The film is justified in indicting the
shameful record of France's post-war
governments — which, until quite
recently, pulled a blanket of silence
over the country's anti-Semitism and its
bootlicking of the Nazi conquerors. ❑
5pm - Midnight
Sunday - Wednesday
■
Thursday - Saturday
Drinks Served until 2:00am nightly
Mid-day Menu 3pm - 5pm
Happy Hour daily 3pm - 7pm
201 HAMILTON AVE.
2 4 8 . 6 4 2 . 2 4 8 9
■
BIRMINGHAM
804140
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We'll Be There! Thursday, February 19, 200411
Adat Shalom Synagogue • 6pm-Bpm
Phone
Name
The Statement is scheduled to
open Friday, Feb. 6, at the
Landmark Maple Art Theatre in
Bloomfield Township. Opening
dates are subject to change; con-
sult your local movie listings.
(248) 542-0180.
■
rt
tit
1:1
Address
Number of Adults Number of Children
Check or Visa #
Non-Mem(sers-$18 4dults ► $8 <Wren Oda} Merntlers-$15 4dulfs • $5 <611dren
Nursery Scholl <Wren 5 & under - No <6arge
Clip Out and Mail Check or Visa # to Adat Shalom Synagogue
29901 Middlebelt, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 • 248-626-5702
tt.
Jeffrey L. Rosenberg
Farmington Hills Kosher Catering
(Under supervision of Detroit Council of Orthodox Rabbis)
and anti-Semitism," Jewison says.
But, he says, he also is offended by
Jews who use derogatory terms to
describe non-Jews.
When Jews "talk about 'a shvarti e,'
shiksa' or someone being treif —
that perpetuates uncivilized behav-
ior," he says.
Michael Caine has made some 90 •
films over a 50-year span, but nowa-
days he accepts a role only if it's amus-
ing — such as his portrayal of Austin
Powers' father — or challenging.
"I decided to play the French Nazi
.Brossard because his character was the
farthest removed from my own," he
says. "I don't want anyone to sympa-
thize with Brossard, but I play him as
a pathetic and sad man. I have talked
to many racists, and I always come
away feeling how pathetic they are."
"I have also known religious
fanatics of all stripes. Whenever
one of them says he is willing to
die for his religion, what he means
is that he's willing to kill for his
religion," Caine says.
Born Maurice Micklewhite, Caine
grew up in London's heavily Jewish
East End, where his Cockney father
was a fish-market porter and his
mother was a cleaning woman.
The future actor also attended a
Jewish school, where a classmate was
future playwright Harold Pinter, and
functioned as a Shabbos goy for his
Jewish neighbors.
"I went to their homes and lit the
fires and earned a sixpence. That was
a lot of money to me then," he remi-
nisces.
The Yiddish he picked up in his
youth came in handy when Caine
started making movies in Hollywood.
His facility with the language led
to considerable speculation that he
was at least partially Jewish.
Actually, he grew up in a mixed
Catholic-Protestant home. His wife
Shakira, of Kashmiri descent, is a
Muslim.
"If I am struck by one thing, it is
how alike all peopleare," Caine
says. ❑
Telephone (248) 626-5702
Fax (248) 865-7845
Adat Shalom Synagogue
797430
rt
SUPER BOWL.
PAR. TY AYS
SUMPTUOUS
APPETIZERS
DELECTABLE
HOT DINNERS
FABULOUS
PARTY TRAYS
TANTALIZING
DESSERTS
6646 TELEGRAPH AT MAPLE • BLOOMFIELD PLAZA
248-932-0800
802220
1/30
• 2004
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