Introduction

En mai, fais ce qu’il te plaît is a 2015 French war drama film directed by Christian Carion. It stars August Diehl and Olivier Gourmet in lead roles, and was released on 04 November 2015. The film score was composed by Ennio Morricone.

Also known as Come What May (US and worldwide), Darling Buds of May (worldwide, English alternative title), and The Evacuation (DVD title, UK).

Outline

On 10 May 1940, during World War II, the German Army invades Belgium and France via the Ardennes.

Frightened by the progress of the enemy, the people of the small village of Lebucquière decide, on the recommendations of the prefecture, to give up everything to go on the road, fleeing to the coast.

Among them is Paul, the village mayor. He leads the group, seeking to maintain a minimum of order and republican spirit in this nomadic life. Mado, his wife, plays music, trying to recreate the fragrance of life when friends would come to his coffee shop in the village.

Suzanne, a young teacher, acts as a scout to choose the least congested route. She supports a small German boy, Max, 8 years old, whose father Hans, an anti-Nazi dissident, was arrested by the French authorities following the declaration of war.

During the Battle of Arras, residents are released from prison and abandoned in the deserted city. Hans manages to flee the city, accompanied by a Scottish officer, Percy, whose entire unit died under German bullets.

These two will travel together. Hans seeking to recover his son who fled the village, and Percy hoping to reach the sea to find a boat back to England.

Cast

• August Diehl as Hans
• Olivier Gourmet as Paul
• Mathilde Seigner as Mado
• Alice Isaaz as Suzanne
• Matthew Rhys as Percy
• Jacques Bonnaffé as Roger
• Joshio Marlon as Max
• Laurent Gerra as Albert

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Christian Carion
• Producer(s):
  • Jonathan Blumental … associate producer
  • Philip Boëffard … producer
  • Romain Le Grand … co-producer
  • Ève Machuel … executive producer (as Eve François Machuel)
  • Patrick Quinet … co-producer
  • Stéphane Riga … executive producer
  • Christophe Rossignon … producer
• Writer(s):
  • Christian Carion … (scenario) (dialogue)
  • Laure Irrmann … (scenario) (dialogue)
  • Andrew Bampfield … (scenario) (dialogue)
• Music:
  • Ennio Morricone
• Cinematography:
  • Pierre Cottereau
• Editing:
• Production:
  • Nord-Ouest Films
  • Pathé (co-production)
  • Artémis Productions (co-production)
  • France 2 Cinéma (co-production)
  • Appaloosa Distribution (co-production)
  • Clap Trap (co-production)
  • Une Hirondelle Productions (co-production)
  • Canal+ (participation)
  • Ciné+ (participation)
  • France Télévisions (participation)
  • SofiTVciné 2 (in association with)
  • Cofinova 11 (in association with)
  • Palatine Étoile 12 (in association with)
  • Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral Belge (support)
  • Tax Shelter Film Funding (support)
  • Pictanovo Nord-Pas-de-Calais (support)
  • Région Nord-Pas-de-Calais (support)
  • Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) (in partnership with)
• Distributor(s):
  • Pathé (France, 2015)(theatrical)
  • Cohen Media Group (United States, 2016)(subtitled, theatrical)
  • Fênix Distribuidora de Filmes (Brazil, 2015)(theatrical)
  • Only Hearts Company (Japan, 2017)(DVD)
  • WOWOW Cinema (Japan, 2017)(TV)
• Release Date: 10 October 2015 (Festival International du Film de Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France).
• Running time: 114 minutes.
• Rating: R.
• Country: France.
• Language: French.

Video Link(s)