Life and Nothing But

Life and Nothing But is a 1989 French film directed by Bertrand Tavernier. It was inspired by the novel by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare titled The General of the Dead Army. Synopsis Set in October 1920, it tells the story of Major Delaplane, a man whose job is to find the identities of unknown dead soldiers after World War I. He encounters two women looking for their lost men: Irène, an aristocrat, and Alice, a country girl. The movie is a sensitive examination of the deep psychological scars left behind by the war, clear of sentiment yet with delicately nuanced irony. Cast Philippe Noiret - Commandant Delaplane Sabine Azéma - Irène de Courtil Pascale Vignal - Alice Maurice Barrier - Mercadot François Perrot - Capitaine Perrin Jean-Pol Dubois - André Frédéric Pierrot - Marcel Jean-Paul Comart - Fagot Daniel Russo - Lieutenant Trévise Michel Duchaussoy - Général Villerieux Pascal Elso - The blind Awards The film was nominated for numerous awards. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language. It was also nominated for 11 César Awards, winning for Best Actor (Philippe Noiret) and Best Music.