Le Combat dans l'île (Fire and Ice) (1961)

82% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(82 ratings)

The political overtones in this action-oriented drama may be a little murky outside of its time and place, yet the story is well told. Clement (Jean-Louis Tritignant) is a right-wing rabblerouser married to aspiring young actress Anne (Romy Schneider). He belongs to an underground terrorist group… More The political overtones in this action-oriented drama may be a little murky outside of its time and place, yet the story is well told. Clement (Jean-Louis Tritignant) is a right-wing rabblerouser married to aspiring young actress Anne (Romy Schneider). He belongs to an underground terrorist group determined to spread chaos among the Western nations in order to eventually gain political control and then expand their activities. At the moment, he is taking part in an assassination scheme aimed at a major labor leader that ultimately fails because of an informer. Clement takes off to find the culprit, leaving Anne in the care of his supposed friend Paul (Henri Serre). That turns out to be a mistake on several different counts. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Directed By: Alain Cavalier
Written By: Alain Cavalier, Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Aug 17, 1962 Wide

Critic Reviews

A.O. Scott, New York Times
Anne [is] played with heart-stopping capriciousness by Romy Schneider, who was never lovelier and who is capable of distracting everyone in the film, and the audience above all, from whatever grave political matters are afoot.
Vadim Rizov, Village Voice
There's a surprise every five minutes, except when fascism gets its ass kicked at the end.
Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
Ah, well. It sure looks purty.
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View
... you know this is heading into truly weird territory.
Fernando F. Croce, Slant Magazine
A modest package for a less than explosive French New Wave curio.
Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
Alain Cavalier's film, in re-release, offers plenty of left/right, labor/management, humanity/ideology contrasts, but dramatically it's silly. It's worth watching for Schneider, who is simply radiant.
Gerald Peary, Boston Phoenix
Rescued now from 1962 oblivion, Alain Cavalier's black-and-white "noir" is sleek and cool, with complicated turns and thrilling shoot-outs and stormy betrayals, both political and romantic.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Alain Cavalier's New Wave thriller is a tasty French mix of politics and romance, while glorifying that iconic goddess, Romy Schneider.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
might now finally find itself as a key part of post-Algerian France.

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Walter M

In "Le Combat Dans L'Ile," Anne(Romy Schneider) discovers a package in her closet which contains a bazooka. Afraid of ending up in an episode of "24," she confronts her husband Clement(Jean-Louis Trintignant) who admits to being part of a right wing terrorist… More
In "Le Combat Dans L'Ile," Anne(Romy Schneider) discovers a package in her closet which contains a bazooka. Afraid of ending up in an episode of "24," she confronts her husband Clement(Jean-Louis Trintignant) who admits to being part of a right wing terrorist cell with his new friend Serge(Pierre Asso). As part of his political awakening, he plans to give up his life of privilege and place at his father's(Jacques Berlioz) company. Plus, there is also the matter of the assassination of Terrasse(Maurice Garrel), a local politician. "Le Combat Dans L'Ile" is an intriguing misstep that starts well but instead of investigating this shadow world further, backs off and becomes just another banal domestic drama. For such an understated drama, the bazooka might seem a bit like overkill but it is probably left over from World War II, like the fascism of Clement and his friends. On a broader note, the movie is about escaping the past and growing up, as Clement in trying to get away from the influence of his dominating father, gets himself in a worse mess than he could have imagined. As one character asks another after a particularly off-the-wall request, "Are you 12?"

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Le Combat dans l'île (Fire and Ice) (1961)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

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