La Veuve De Saint Pierre (aka The Widow Of Saint Pierre) (2000)

Set in 1849 on the French island of Saint Pierre (near Canada), a condemned murderer (Emir Kusturica) is placed in the care of an army officer (Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Juliette Binoche) until a guillotine can be sent to the island for the execution. But as the months pass, the condemned man atones for his crime and the islanders come to object to the execution. But the island's politicians become even more determined to carry it out. Directed by Patrice Leconte (MONSIEUR HIRE), the film is based on an actual incident. The widow of the title has a double meaning which becomes clear by the film's conclusion. It's a disturbing film on several levels as it addresses some issues. Can one overlook the severity of the crime when the criminal changes, when he is not the same man who committed the crime? Does a military officer's obligation to duty supersede his marital obligations? What does capital punishment solve? There's a triple tragedy by the film's finale and it all seems so futile when you realize that not only was justice not served but "justice", in fact, was the cause of these tragedies. Still, although I was sympathetic to the film's characters, I couldn't help but think how the victim was so easily forgotten in all this. With Michael Duchaussoy and Philippe Magnan.