Welcome back to Movie Recap. Today I'm gonna show you a 2017 French drama film called,
A Bag of Marbles. Spoilers ahead. Watch out and take care.
The movie begins with Joseph walking down the street alone with only the sling bag he
brings upon his shoulder. Joseph then quietly observes the establishments and parks as he
slowly feels everything he sees on the street, thinking that everything is the
same yet looks smaller. Afterward, Joseph stops going downstairs and sits on it,
continuously discerning everything that may grow bigger once Joseph grows up.
Eventually, Joseph takes out the marble from his pocket as he estimates the years
it has passed since the beginning of World War II. Because of that, Joseph suddenly
reminisces the moments with her brother, Maurice. One day, when he and her brother wait outside,
Maurice keeps himself busy building marbles on the ground. Then, Maurice asks Joseph if he's still
going to shoot the marbles he built because it's taking him too long to finish his part.
So, Joseph says that Maurice should let him go as Joseph keeps himself busy concentrating
on blowing the marbles before shooting. Technically, Joseph is too focused on aiming
all the marbles to scatter and wins against his brother, so he makes a stern face upon throwing
it toward the area. However, Joseph fails to hit it, allowing his brother to give comments
about him being incompetent despite being plucked. Because of that, Joseph suddenly
feels down after seeing himself flop to show his brother his determination to hit the marbles.
Maurice then orders Joseph to go with him because they'll be late when suddenly he sees an older
woman plummets downstairs. Instead of helping her, Maurice eventually sees his brother feeling down
and refuses to move his body to get up, so he lets Joseph keep the marble to stop crying and
joins him to walk to attend their classes at school. Fortunately, Joseph finally gets up,
saying that he's not whining despite the obviousness he showed on his face earlier.
Then, later, Joseph attends his class, yet he seems preoccupied with observing the made-up
planets on the ceiling. He only gets interrupted when his seatmate elbows him to take the paper
given by his classmate, Zerati, sitting in front of him. However, their teacher suddenly catches
them, so instead of reading what's written on the paper, Zerati gives it to their teacher.
Afterward, their teacher reads it, revealing what Zerati has written on it, and he says that Zerati
holds his mistresses, even others. Because of that, everyone in the room laughs as their teacher
confirms if Zerati wrote it. So, Joseph interrupts and answers, saying that Zerati's dense enough to
pass it on but not clever enough to write it. Later, Maurice and Joseph finish their class
at school and go home together when suddenly Joseph throws a snowball at his old brother.
So, Maurice plays with him when suddenly they see SS Allemand entering their father's barbershop.
So, Joseph and Maurice go inside and watch their father,
Roman, cut off SS Allemand's hair. Afterward, they spend their night playing in bed when
suddenly their mother enters their room and puts them in bed to sleep early. However, Joseph gets
scolded after his teacher reports what he did in school earlier, but instead of answering,
they see their father entering their room. Because of that, Maurice talks to his father, telling him
that he's so brave to stand up with Jews against the SS officers who mocked them at the barbershop.
The following day, one of Joseph's brothers informs their mother about the news, saying that
there will be penal provisions in which offenses will be punished for imprisonment and fines
measures such as internment in the Jewish camp may be added or substituted. Technically, they
can't do anything anymore; even going out will be hard for them to do because of the new provision.
So, their mother tells them that they will talk with their father once he gets home.
However, Henri reasons out to her mother, clearing out to her that Nazis are marking
them like in the Middle Ages by showing the symbol on Joseph's jacket that he's currently wearing.
Leaving her no choice, their mother tells them that she and Roman decided to leave tomorrow.
Eventually, Roman arrives at their house while Joseph immediately asks him if the SS officers
are avenging themselves because they got annoyed in the salon yesterday. So, Roman assures him
that none of it is true. However, Maurice and Joseph suddenly receive a mock about their
race being Jewish from their schoolmates while entering their school. But instead of stooping
down to their level, Maurice pushes Joseph inside to ignore what they hear from them.
However, Joseph's eager to answer them back, so he stops in front of them and listens to
what they're saying. Because of that, Joseph and Maurice end up fighting with their schoolmates as
they can't control their emotions anymore not to fight back. Technically, their schoolmates
are mocking them by saying that they are a youpin who causes problems in their society.
Later, Maurice goes home with a bruise on his left eye after protecting Joseph from getting hurt.
However, Zerati suddenly calls them from behind to exchange Joseph's star with his bag of marbles.
So, Joseph warns Zerati to be careful because it's not just a star but also a target. Afterward, they
exchange things and continue to walk toward their father's barbershop to meet and go home with him.
Unfortunately, his mother sees it, but Maurice only receives no reaction from her
and eats the food that she serves at the table. While sipping the soup, Roman eventually reveals
the story between their Papi Jacob and him. Technically, during their stay in a village in
Russia, Roman says that a riot occurred against the Jews, which they called 'the pogroms.'
So, it gets hard for them to stay, and it leaves Papi Jacob no choice but to tell his son, Roman,
that he needs to live alone to save his life. Because of that, Maurice presumes that it
will be their turn to be like their father, and unfortunately, Roman says yes. Eventually, their
mother interrupts, saying that Henri and Albert have already left for the free zone, and only
the two of them will leave tonight. Luckily, their mother informs them that there will be staying at
her friend's house in Nice once they arrive there. Leaving them no choice, Maurice and Joseph follow
the order and listen to which is the safest route they will take. Technically, Joseph and Maurice
will take the free zone in Hagetmau to reach Nice, and they will find a ferryman in a restaurant.
However, Roman warns them to be careful because scammers are scattering all over the place,
and they better hide the sheet containing routes and guides on the way to their trip. Afterward,
Roman gives them 200,000 francs for their finance and then reminds them not to tell anyone that
they are Jewish. Though Roman clarifies that they should still be proud of who they are,
but not right now because it's too dangerous to risk their lives to fight for their race.
Later, Maurice and Joseph begin their trip and leave their home. Seconds later, they finally
arrive at the train station, fitting themselves into the crowd so they can go inside. Afterward,
they find some spots to sit, and luckily, there's a vacant that could fit two people
besides the window. Maurice then takes out the sheet to tell Joseph that they'll stop at Dax.
However, Joseph eventually takes one marble after leaving the bag of marbles at their house.
Maurice suddenly wakes up Joseph the following day,
saying that most passengers jump before arriving at the station. Shocked, they see the passengers
getting killed and tortured by the Nazis outside, so Maurice immediately grabs Joseph's arms as they
attempt to escape. Suddenly, Levy whistles at them and orders them to sit beside him. Fortunately,
Levy saves the young boys by telling the SS officers that they are his children. Afterward,
they get out to the train station to take the bus, but Maurice stops and thanks Levy for saving them.
After a while, Maurice follows the family to lead them to the restaurant and find the ferryman.
While discreetly watching the children playing outside, a man named Raymond suddenly rings his
bike's bell to inform them that the ferryman is coming to look for people at 8 AM. However,
it takes 10,000 francs per person, so Raymond offers to choose him instead so they can pay less.
Unfortunately, Maurice and Joseph will still wait until nightfall before Raymond takes
them to where they are going, so they tour themselves first around the Dax.
As the night comes, Maurice starts overthinking as he thinks that Raymond will not get them anymore,
but they suddenly hear his bike's bell a few seconds later. So, they immediately follow Raymond
inside the forest when suddenly the SS officers begin shooting them, so the three of them hide.
However, while waiting for them to disappear, a man approaches them from behind, seeking
help as the ferryman abandons them. Luckily, they reach the open barn with Raymond's help,
then learn that the farmer knows about their arrival. So, Joseph and Maurice
spend their night sleeping at the barn. Maurice and Joseph continue traveling the
following day when suddenly Joseph feels his foot limping. So, Maurice gives him a piggyback ride
after seeing Joseph's foot swollen. Luckily, they see a vehicle approaching them, so Maurice favors
getting themselves inside because Joseph can't walk properly anymore. With the driver's help,
they successfully pass through the Hagetmau and suddenly change their path afterward to avoid
the highways. Fortunately, every person they meet on their trip helps them reach their destination.
Later, Maurice and Joseph safely arrive in Italy and discover that the Italian citizens are more
relaxed than the Germans. Eventually, they meet Albert at a barbershop he works for and reunite
with the rest of the family members. Afterward, they go to the beach to bond with Henri and Albert
while Albert and Anna watch them from the shore. Three months later, Joseph finds himself working
in the public market while Maurice, on the other hand, is keeping himself busy with her girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Roman gambles outside the barbershop while Albert works as a barber.
So, Joseph approaches his father to watch him play when suddenly Roman encourages him to go
to school, but Joseph refuses. However, they eventually receive news that Germans are coming,
so Roman orders Joseph not to tell her mother. Afterward, Joseph gives Anna a present,
which is a violin. Surprised, Anna plays the violin for them when suddenly the police
officers knock on their door. So, Anna and his sons immediately hide while Roman will
make a talk regarding Henri and Albert's case. Unfortunately, the police officers give Roman
a conference for the CLS, the Compulsory Labor Service letter for Henri and Albert,
informing him that they're expected tomorrow at the address written inside. However, they
almost get caught after the police officers hear that Anna played Jewish music through the violin.
But, with her extravagant alibi, Anna lures the police officers and makes them believe
that she's a Russian. Because of that, Roman says that they need to move before getting arrested.
Later, Albert and Anna deliver Maurice and Joseph to a government camp for minors,
apologizing for getting separated again because of the danger they encounter when living together.
Afterward, Amboise Mancelier takes care of the boys, saying they should introduce themselves
as Roman Catholic. After that, Amboise orders Gerard to tour the boys in the camp.
Luckily, Volsin early reminds them to watch out for Gerard and his gang because he's a bully.
The following day, Maurice and Joseph join the group of Masso, informing them that there are
a lot of Boches everywhere and finding Jewish to reach their quota on taking them to Germany.
Afterward, Maurice informs Joseph that the Boches will arrive later, so they begin planning how to
introduce themselves first before moving out for their first activity in the field.
While doing their activities, Maurice eventually grabs Joseph's arm to continue discussing
the information they will tell later. Then, after that, they favor Ferdinand
to take them on the market, but Ferdinand goes to another location first to take care of something.
So, they wait for Ferdinand to come back, but Maurice can't take any longer,
so he tells Joseph to wait for him as he finds Ferdinand inside. While waiting, Joseph takes
out his marble and plays with it, then, later on, follows after he gets bored inside the vehicle.
Unfortunately, the three of them, including Ferdinand, get trapped by the SS officers,
taking them to the Nazi General for interrogation. Unfortunately, Ferdinand gets killed after saying
that he's Jewish and resistant, making the boys feel more scared upon the interrogation.
Luckily, they get a pass from the General after showing him that they're not Jewish.
Impressed by their actions, the General takes them for medical examinations to treat Joseph's wounds.
Afterward, they return to the General to continue answering the interrogation when suddenly the
General catches Joseph lying. So, he orders Maurice to get their baptismal certificates
within 48 hours, or else he will send Joseph to the next train if he doesn't return immediately.
Before Maurice leaves, he promises Joseph that he'll get back sooner,
so Joseph must wait for him until he returns. However, Joseph gets weakened and delirious due
to his injury, so he eventually passes out while cutting the onions in the kitchen. But with the
help of Doctor Rosen, he takes care of Joseph and reveals the truth by saying that he's the one who
sets out for the train with the others. Rosen then gives Joseph encouraging quotes before leaving.
Later, the Archbishop helps Maurice with the baptismal certificates and volunteers to talk with
the General. Fortunately, the Archbishop take the boys from the General and gives them to Sabinagui,
not knowing that their father is inside the vehicle. Afterward,
Sabinagui starts driving when suddenly Roman calls them from behind. Luckily, Maurice and
Joseph reunite with their father again after encountering dangerous experiences from the Nazis.
Then, later at night, Maurice and Joseph find out from their mother that they need to leave
again because their father has the same illness as Joseph, but worse than Joseph's injury. But
the truth is Anna's only making excuses because Roman will get arrested already.
Because of that, they have to flee again to meet their mother.
The movie ends with Maurice and Joseph needing to survive and make a living, so they have no choice
but to work despite not seeing their mother and their two old brothers in the meantime.
Eventually, Joseph falls in love with a girl named Francoise, the daughter of his boss.
Then, one day, while he's working, Joseph reads the newspaper, reporting that Paris is finally
liberated. So, Maurice immediately finds Joseph to tell him to go home,
but Joseph chooses to stay and help Francoise's family from getting killed by the Italians.
Unfortunately, Joseph fails to save Francoise, so he chooses to go home instead and return to
his family in France. However, Joseph learns that his father already died after getting arrested.