Department of History

A true, satisfying ingenious and provocativemedieval mystery with meticulous historical detail. The film revolves around the suspenseful unraveling of the idetity of the title character, Martin Guerre, who has disappeared as a young husband and resumes his marriage years later. The apparent changes Martin has undergone in his years away from the slender basis ofhis uncle's claim that this isn't Martin at all, but an imposter. A trial is demanded and not until the very last minutes of a tension-filled courtroom sequence is the situation resolved. Mr. Departdieu's closing speech becomes an unexpectedly stirring declaration. This Daniel Vigne film reveals much of human nature and the timeless elusiveness of truth.