
See You Up There
In November 1918, a few days before the Armistice, when Lieutenant Pradelle orders a senseless attack, he causes a useless disaster; but his outrageous act also binds the lives of two soldiers who have nothing more in common than the battlefield: Édouard saves Albert, although at a high cost. They become companions in misfortune who will attempt to survive in a changing world. Pradelle, in his own way, does the same.
Dialogues from Movie See You Up There
Quotes from Movie See You Up There
Memorable Scenes from Movie See You Up There
The War's End
As the guns fall silent and the smoke clears after a devastating battle in World War I, two soldiers, Albert and Edouard, stumble through the remnants of their shattered lives. The stark contrast of the battlefield now devoid of life's sounds weighs heavily on them, showcasing their trauma and disbelief. This moment of unsettling silence is punctuated by the visual of their comrades' haunting expressions, making the audience grapple with the futility of war and its aftermath.
Context: This scene comes after a long period of intense fighting that has torn apart the lives of Albert and Edouard. Their previous moments of brotherhood and laughter are now overshadowed by loss and a bleak future.
The Decision
In a dimly lit hospital room, Albert learns about Edouard's severe injuries. Despite the chaos around him, Albert makes the life-altering decision to leave behind everything he knows to help Edouard reclaim his identity. His resolve shines through as he confronts the fear of facing a changed world alone, marking a beautiful moment of sacrifice and loyalty.
Context: This scene highlights their deep friendship and Albert’s determination to support Edouard, showing the audience the depth of their bond and setting the stage for their future adventures together.
Masks of Pain
At a carnival, Edouard puts on a clown mask, hiding his physical and emotional scars from the world. As he performs with Albert by his side, the juxtaposition of joy and sorrow is palpable. The colorful lights and laughter surround them, yet underneath the surface lies Edouard's struggle, reflected in his forced smile as he turns away, revealing the mask of pain that haunts him.
Context: This part illustrates Edouard's desire to escape his trauma while showing how deeply affected he is by the war's impact. The audience gets a glimpse of his internal battle against societal expectations.
The Heist
In a daring sequence, Albert and Edouard execute their plan to rob a funeral home, which symbolizes both a fight against corruption and a last resort for dignity. The tension builds with sharp dialogue and escalating stakes as they navigate an intricate web of deception. The fact that they are stealing from the dead adds a haunting layer to the scene, leaving viewers anxious yet captivated.
Context: This scene acts as a turning point in the film, reflecting their misfit nature in a society that alienates them. It also begins to shift their motivations from survival to rebellion.
Revelation of Truth
In a quiet moment, Albert confronts Edouard about his pain and the truth of what happened in the war. The conversation leads to an emotional outburst, where Edouard reveals his deep mistrust of the world. The tension peaks as they share a moment of honesty, leading to rekindled solidarity between them.
Context: This scene is crucial in developing their character arcs as it allows them to confront their inner demons, showcasing the importance of vulnerability in friendships.
The Climax
As they stand before a large audience to unveil their final project, Edouard’s anxiety is palpable. The moment comes alive with applause, and Edouard delivers a heartfelt speech that reveals his inner struggle and the chaos of war. As he breaks into tears, it becomes clear that the crowd feels the raw emotion radiating from him, creating a powerful connection.
Context: This peak moment signifies a turnaround for Edouard, marking his transition from the shadows to a stage where he can reclaim his voice and make peace with his past.
Facing Consequences
After their heist, Albert and Edouard face the repercussions of their actions. With the police closing in, the emotional weight of betrayal hangs in the air. The visuals of the spree turning into fear leave listeners unsettled, enhancing the stakes of friendship against societal criticism.
Context: This moment illustrates the consequences of their desperation, creating a deeper understanding of their struggle for dignity amidst adversity.
Goodbye, Lost Souls
In a heartfelt farewell, Edouard writes a letter to Albert before they part ways to follow their own paths. With each word, audiences witness his profound understanding of their journey together, marked by excruciating pain and joyous moments.
Context: This scene adds emotional depth, emphasizing the theme of love and loss and the struggle to move forward despite shared traumas.
The Moment of Impact
During a flashback, the audience witnesses the horrifying moment when Edouard is severely injured in battle. The chaos is enveloped in explosive sound and visuals, which create immediate empathy as the trauma he experienced falls onto Albert's shoulders.
Context: This flashback serves to ground their present struggle with vivid memories, enriching the narrative with backstory that explains their current emotional states.
A Father’s Regret
In a quiet scene, Albert visits his estranged father, who reflects on his failures as a parent. The tension gradually builds through unspoken words and weary glances. The final moment is marked by a single tear on his father’s cheek, intensifying the emotional exchange, as redemption feels almost out of reach.
Context: This father-son dynamic showcases the generational trauma and regret that often accompanies conflict, thereby intertwining personal and collective histories.
Together in Silence
In an uncharacteristically serene moment, Albert and Edouard sit in silence, feeling the weight of their experiences. Their expressions tell stories of pain and camaraderie without any words. The vast, empty field surrounding them symbolizes their shared losses and aspirations for the future.
Context: This scene emphasizes the power of companionship and healing. It illustrates that sometimes, words aren’t necessary in understanding one another.
The Final Farewell
As the film reaches its poignant conclusion, Albert pays tribute to Edouard by standing at his grave, holding flowers and speaking softly about their friendship. The stillness of the moment carries immense weight, leaving the audience to reflect on loss through their bond.
Context: The finality of this farewell reinforces themes around mortality, friendship, and the scars carried from shared experiences.
Dancer in the Dark
In a beautifully choreographed scene, Edouard performs a solo dance in the midst of a somber gathering. The juxtaposition of movement and stillness clashes with the audience's emotions. It becomes a dance of mourning, filled with longing and nostalgia.
Context: This moment captures the essence of grief and the celebration of life while providing a creative lift to the story's darker undertones.
The Restaurant Encounter
While dining, Edouard meets an old acquaintance who reminds him of the world he tried to leave behind. The tension escalates as whispers of his past life and current struggles intertwine in the conversation. The surroundings fade away, and the emotional depth of Edouard's internal battle becomes apparent.
Context: This scene serves as a reminder of Edouard's constant struggle with identity and acceptance, emphasizing the societal pressures on veterans.
The Talk with the Therapist
During a therapy session, Edouard finally opens up about his feelings, leading to a breakthrough where he acknowledges his pain. The release of pent-up sorrow floods the room, bringing a haunting vulnerability that enlightens the audience on his ongoing battle.
Context: This pivotal moment allows viewers to understand the importance of mental health and communication, grounding Edouard's journey with realism.
The Art Installation
Unfolding layers at the art installation, Edouard begins to express his war experiences through his artwork. Each piece reflects a different chapter of his trauma. The awe and shock of the viewers mirror Edouard's awakening, enhancing the collective understanding of horror in warfare.
Context: This scene is key to showcasing the therapeutic power of art, as Edouard translates his pain into beauty.
The Funeral Speech
At a funeral, Albert delivers a eulogy that transcends a mere goodbye as he recounts the stories of their adventures. His voice crackles with emotion, and the shared laughter and tears create a beautifully bittersweet farewell that resonates deeply with everyone.
Context: This moment encapsulates the essence of their relationship, highlighting themes of love, legacy, and the enduring power of friendship.
The Basement Revelation
Discovering a hidden cache of letters in the basement elevates the emotional weight of the story. As Albert reads through the letters, he unearths secrets that reshape his understanding of Edouard, leading him to re-evaluate their past and the profound bond they shared.
Context: This discovery acts as an eye-opener, showing how shared histories can shape identities while underlining themes of recovery and forgiveness.
Breaking Point
In a climactic confrontation, Edouard finally shouts out the pain he has bottled up for too long, catching Albert off-guard. The emotional breakdown fractures their dynamic, forcing both characters to face their truths about each other and themselves.
Context: This scene highlights the importance of expressing emotions, showcasing the rawness of human experience and the necessity for vulnerability in relationships.
A Letter to the Future
With pen in hand, Edouard writes a letter to his future self, encapsulating his hopes and fears while addressing the scars left from battle. The poignant moment leaves viewers with a sense of hope, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.
Context: This climactic moment encapsulates the film’s central themes of memory, healing, and the journey toward self-acceptance.
Silent Apologies
In a quiet space, Albert and Edouard share a long-awaited moment of silence, apologizing without uttering a single word. The emotions swell in the air, creating a poignant atmosphere that resonates deeply with viewers who feel the weight of their shared histories.
Context: This intimate moment illustrates that sometimes, the most significant apologies are those expressed with sincerity, acceptance, and love.
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Behind the Scenes from Movie See You Up There
Casting Change for Édouard Péricourt
Initially, actor Gaspard Ulliel was not cast as Édouard Péricourt, but a last-minute availability opened up the role for him after another actor dropped out.
Why it matters: Ulliel's intense performance deeply shaped the character of Édouard, enhancing the film's emotional depth as he brought a unique vulnerability to the role that resonated with audiences.
Authenticity in Set Design
The film's production team invested significant time in researching and recreating World War I-era Paris, even using original materials and techniques devised by artisans from that time.
Why it matters: This attention to detail in the set design gives the film a palpable sense of authenticity, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the historical context which increases the overall impact of the narrative.
Use of Practical Effects
Many scenes featuring explosions or destruction were done using practical effects rather than CGI, contributing a rawness to the wartime sequences.
Why it matters: This decision helped ground the film in a tactile reality, making the audience's experience more visceral and engaging, amplifying the horror of war.
Collaboration with Soldiers
The filmmakers consulted with historians and veterans to shape the narratives and historical portrayals more accurately.
Why it matters: This enriched the storytelling, ensuring it was not only entertaining but also a respectful representation of those who served, adding layers of realism and honor to the film.
The Thematic Use of Music
The film's score was composed to reflect the emotional states of the characters, utilizing motifs that recur throughout the film to deepen the viewers' connection.
Why it matters: This musical motif enhances character development and emotional resonance, allowing certain scenes to carry heightened tension that lingers long after they end.
Artistry in Costume Design
The costume designers used vintage clothing patterns and fabrics to create historically accurate costumes that reflected the status and transformations of the characters.
Why it matters: Authentic costumes help create a deeper immersion in the film's period, also subtly indicating character arcs and socio-economic changes throughout the story.
Junon and Édouard's Connection
The actors who played Junon and Édouard spent time together off-set to build a natural rapport, fostering believable chemistry.
Why it matters: Their authentic connection translated on-screen, lending weight and nuance to their characters' relationship, increasing the film's emotional stakes.
Symbolic Visual Choices
Director Albert Dupontel made deliberate choices in camera angles and framing to evoke feelings of entrapment and despair among characters, especially during key scenes.
Why it matters: These visual choices reinforce the film's themes of loss and the lingering effects of trauma, creating a more impactful viewing experience.
Improvised Dialogue
Several key scenes included improvised lines by actors, which led to more organic interactions and spontaneity.
Why it matters: This improvisation added authenticity to character dynamics, enhancing emotional exchanges and making dialogue feel fresh and real.
On-Set Safety Practices
Due to the film's focus on wartime reconstruction sequences that involved stunts, rigorous safety measures were implemented to protect the cast and crew.
Why it matters: This not only ensured the safety of those involved but also allowed for a more relaxed atmosphere on set, fostering creativity and collaboration.
Cinematic Inspirations
Dupontel cited classic war films and paintings as significant sources of inspiration during pre-production, aiming to reflect their emotional honesty.
Why it matters: These inspirations notably influenced the visual storytelling approach, adding layers of artistic depth, which engaged audiences on a cerebral level.
Meticulous Editing Process
The editing team worked closely with Dupontel to create a tightly woven narrative that balanced dark humor with poignant emotional moments.
Why it matters: This careful balance is crucial to the film's identity, as it caters to varying audience interpretations of the film's themes.
Filming Location Challenges
Several outdoor scenes faced inclement weather, leading to last-minute location changes and adjustments in the filming schedule.
Why it matters: These challenges forced the crew to improvise creatively, sometimes resulting in unexpected yet beautiful shots that added a layer of authenticity to the film.
Character Backstories
The actors were encouraged to develop extensive backstories for their characters that informed their performances.
Why it matters: This preparation imbued their portrayals with depth and intention, enriching the narrative experience for viewers who are attuned to subtle character nuances.
Technical Innovation in Cinematography
Advanced camera technology was employed to capture both vast landscapes and intimate close-ups, enhancing visual storytelling.
Why it matters: This cinematographic approach adds brilliance to the film's visual narrative, allowing viewers to feel both the scale of war and the individual human struggle.
The Role of Humor
The script retained elements of dark humor to address the stark realities of war, reflecting a French cultural tendency to approach sensitive topics with levity.
Why it matters: This incorporation of humor allows audiences to process pain in a nuanced way, creating a rich viewing experience that balances heaviness with hope.
Cast's Willingness to Commit
Cast members underwent rigorous physical training to prepare for their roles as soldiers, which included learning battlefield maneuvers.
Why it matters: This commitment to realism brought authenticity to their performances, making soldiers' post-war traumas more relatable and impactful.
Use of Symbolism in Props
Specific props, such as Édouard's mask, were designed to symbolize transformation, reflecting both physical and emotional scars from the war.
Why it matters: These symbols add layers of meaning that invite audiences to contemplate themes of identity, change, and resilience.
Directorial Vision Balancing Two Genres
Dupontel's vision aimed to blend drama and dark comedy seamlessly, ensuring that tonal shifts didn’t disrupt the narrative flow.
Why it matters: This balancing act contributes to the film's unique voice, allowing it to engage a broad audience range while maintaining thematic integrity.
Community Engagement
The film's production team held discussions with local communities, including veterans' groups, to ensure an authentic portrayal of their experiences.
Why it matters: Such engagement fostered a sense of respect and understanding, leading to portrayal considerations that might resonate better with audiences familiar with the era.
Impact of Literature on Storytelling
The screenplay drew inspiration from Pierre Lemaitre's novel, incorporating elements that emphasized human resilience against adversity.
Why it matters: This literary foundation enriches the screenplay, allowing for complex character development and compelling narrative arcs that resonate with viewers.
Exploring Themes of Memory
The exploration of memory loss and trauma was heavily influenced by film projects that addressed similar issues, pulling insights from psychological studies.
Why it matters: This thematic focus offers viewers a chance to reflect on their own experiences related to loss and memory, creating a deeper connection to the material.
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