The Search

Plot synopsis:
Trains bring homeless children (Displaced Persons or DPs), who are taken by Mrs. Murray (Aline MacMahon) and other United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) workers to a nearby transit camp, where they are fed and cared for. The next morning, the children are interviewed by UNRRA officials to try to identify them and reunite them if possible with their families.
A young boy named Karel (Ivan Jandl) responds "Ich weiß nicht" ("I don't know") to all questions. He grew up in a well-to-do Czech family. The Nazis had deported his sister and doctor father, while the boy and mother were sent to a concentration camp. They eventually became separated. After the war, Karel survived by scavenging for food with other homeless children.
The next day, the children are split up into groups and loaded into trucks and ambulances to be transferred to other camps. The children in Karel's group are at first terrified because the Nazis often used ambulances to gas victims, but are eventually coaxed into the vehicle. During the trip, the smell of exhaust fumes causes the children to panic. Karel's friend Raoul manages to open the back door, and the children scatter in all directions. Karel and Raoul try to swim across a river to escape from two UNRRA men. Raoul drowns, but Karel hides in the reeds.
Later, Karel encounters an American army engineer, Steve (Montgomery Clift), who takes care of him. He starts teaching the boy English. Because Karel cannot recall his name, Steve calls him Jim.
When Jim sees a boy with his mother, he starts to remember his own mother and the last time he saw her, near a fence in the concentration camp. He runs away one evening thinking the fence is nearby. Jim finds a fence at a factory, but cannot find his mother among the workers going home. Steve eventually finds Jim and tells him that his mother is dead (Steve has reason to believe she had been gassed) so he will stop searching for her. He also informs Jim that he is going to try to adopt him and take him to America to start a new life there.
As it turns out, Karel's mother, Mrs. Malik (Jarmila Novotná), is alive. In a parallel story, she has been searching for her son. By chance, she begins working for Mrs. Murray at the same UNRRA camp where her son had been processed. After a while though, she resigns to resume her nearly-hopeless search for Karel.
That same day, Steve takes the boy to the UNRRA camp before leaving for America. He hopes to send for the boy once the paperwork is completed. Mrs. Murray remembers the boy. Suspecting that Jim is Karel, she hurries to the train station to bring Mrs. Malik back, but the train has already left. Then, she sees Mrs. Malik on the train platform; she had changed her mind and decided to stay.
Mrs. Murray takes her back to the UNRRA camp and has her greet the newest group of children. Steve tells Jim to join the new arrivals. Mrs. Malik begins to organize the children and bids them to follow her. Jim walks past without recognizing her. Mrs. Malik almost makes the same mistake, but then turns and calls, "Karel!", and the boy and his mother are reunited.

Tags: violence, murder, flashback

Review:
The movie about the forgotten people.
I'm Chechen and I've seen the war in my country.
This story is only a simple story from a hundred of thousands other stories of Russian- Chechen wars.As someone that have seen the war, it was very difficult for me to watch this movie, I'm a man and I was watching it with the tears in my eyes, it has reminded me all the horrible dark nights in my country.I'm honestly thankful to Mr. Michel Hazanavicius.
It's very obvious that he did not make this movie for money and success but because he thought that someone has to tell the truth.
You will see many people saying that this movie has a political goals, anti-Russia propaganda etc and etc, however truth is truth neither you like it or not.
at least 35% of Chechens were killed in last two wars, about 40.000 of them were children.
They burned people alive, just simple example, google "Samashki massacre" and thats from the war in 1994.
The Search is about the second war 1999 which was much worst than the previous war.
The history of Chechnya and Russia is horrible, there been so many wars in last 400 years, the history is indeed horrible.This movie shows a very little percent of what was really happening in Chechnya, however it tells the truth, It's very disappointing that now days not many people really wants to hear the truth, not much people do really care and that's what movie tells as well.The genocide of Jewish people, the genocide of Chechen and all the other people genocides, those are not only problem of certain people/nation but the problem and the issue of the world and all the people.This is a very honest and based on a true stories movie, this isn't a comedy and action for fun, this is a movie that made with heart for the people that still care.--- Dear Michel Hazanavicius,Thank you very much for this movie from all the Chechen people around the world, one day in Independent Chechen Republic you will be our most welcomed guest.
This is one of the finest films I've ever seen (and there are over 2000 titles on my IMDb list.) It is a gutsy, grim, graphic story with some really horrible characters and some outstandingly good ones.
Most amazing is the performance of young Abdul Khalim Mamutsiev.
There is very little about him in the biography section but if this young boy (he's 9 in the movie) is this great now, he will be another Olivier by the time he's 20!
This film captures the grim reality of the Chechan war, the mindless and corrupt brutality of the Russian army both within and outside its ranks and the bleak, blood soaked reality of the country.
The entire film is shot in stark, cold colours with powerful effects and staging.
I forget some films.
The first: a realistic, near-documentary look at the Russian army and, specifically, one conscript; it's savage, brutal and makes one despair.
The second: a heart-breaking and -warming story of a 9-year old boy and his teenage sister and baby brother who become estranged when their parents are murdered by Russian soldiers.
The point at which these two stories touch is shocking and brilliant..
truthful and brave movie.
This is one of the movies that forced me to think about meaning of life and the cruelty of Russians.
After the movie I immediately logged to internet to search who created this and to express my admiration and gratitude..
I totally disagree with "madamebaterflaj" - although this isn't the "best film ever" (and how could it be, depicting the horror of war), it is not bad at all.
Yes, it is anti-Russian, but don't you remember how the story went?
It's like saying "Schindler's List is black-and-white anti-German propaganda"....
It is an European point of view, of course, so even if there is a sort of happy end, the focus of the story are not the emotions of the characters, not even the characters maybe, but History and how we all are involved.
The boy actor is simply terrific, some times he looks like an old guy, a grown up man, and then again he shows he's just a little boy.
This is a remake of a 1948 movie with the same name, but with a second story along side the updated original.
Like the original movie, this will tug at your heart by displaying the real cost of war.
But unlike the original, this movie not only shows the "victim" side through the use of a homeless little child, it also shows the "victimization" of 18 year old boys, those having to fight.
This movie is a bit gory, but is very respectful and does not show gratuitous gore.
The movie seems to develop slowly, a style many who enjoy European movies have come to expect.
However, unlike many European movies, this one has a nice "twist" at the end that is likely to put a smile on your face, in the midst of the horrors and realities of war.
The two stories are only tied together at the very end and only in a brief, somewhat unsatisfying way.
But if one understands that the movie is reflecting on how awful war is on young lives, it does make sense.
Slow, moving and powerful.
If you want to watch, sit, relax and enjoy..
Such a beautiful film!.
A really beautiful dramatic movie with a really good cast!.
like the kid.
It's 1999, the Second Chechen War. Young Russian Army recruit Kolia is filming the troops.
Their 9 year old son Hadji escapes with his baby brother.
Alone and turning mute, he is taken in by french woman Carole who is writing a report for the EU Human Rights Committee.
Meanwhile, Hadji's sister actually survived the massacre and sets off searching for him.
The movie also follows Kolia as he signs up with his friend.
He faces brutal treatment in the Russian Army and is then sent to the front.This is a French film made in Georgia.
I like the kid and the French woman, no matter how unlikely the situation.
The sister's story has a few compelling moments although the reunion is never in doubt.
By itself, his story has value.
The production and the war torn setting all look fine.
It's just that I don't care that much about him and I kept waiting for the movie to return to the boy.
She could simply film Hadji talking about losing his family and that would be infinitely more riveting than her report.
It seems like an obvious move for the story and for her character.
Overall, I like the kid and his journey.
Russians are bad, Chechens are good.
Manichaeist movie filmed in the time the first "refugees" (or economical migrants) were starting to come to Europe in millions, the producer smelt the profit.
However, you see the trailer, you watched it and saved some tears in the way.About the movie itself...
it's just 2 personal stories without any link or twist.
Slow as hell, all you can expect is when the movie will finish.
The small kid Hadji makes a good performance though.About the director, I'd love to see him and his "chosen people" living in Chechen, surrounded by all these nice guys they are making them flee from such nice cities in the past as Malmö, Rotterdam, Antwerpen or Brussels..
Well done Mr. Michel Hazanavicius, you've made the nice piece of absolutely one-sided turned propaganda.
Don't know did you do it by commission or it was only your point of view, but i clearly understand that you wanna say by this movie - Russians are subhumans.
It's shines through all movie, through all scenes.
I think Europeans like to see such view on Russia and people who live there, but, to be honest, it's disgusting.
Dunno maybe it's because I am Russian and such unfair demonstrations of lies about me and my country make me sad or maybe it's because i understand what's going to be next?
If Russians are so bad ass subhumans - they must pay for their sins?
We already survived one such guy, who thought we subhumans - BTW he was from Europe - you know?
I don't understand are Europeans don't see how people like Hazanavicius growing hatred against an entire nation?
Haven't seen a worse film in ages.
I don't even know where to begin on how awful this film is.
The anti-Russian black and white propaganda aside (no Russian person is depicted in any other way than as a junky, aggressive, delusional, blood-thirsty lunatic), the plot is so full of illogical behaviour of the characters; no deeper development of the characters is done despite the length which is a mere product of poor directing by a person who doesn't know when to say CUT, nor how to instruct the actors to give a little bit more flesh to the bone.
What a waste of the funds and trust gained after the "Artist" (although I must admit, I didn't like it either, but it had at least some substance; it was too long as well, I might add).
What a mistake of a film.
What an obvious and childish propaganda.
Bad propaganda.
What a bad propaganda against Russia!!!
I can't believe how some directors have courage to do such a nasty thing like this.
And now when Eu have problems with migrants, showing they real face how much people of EU like Muslims...
Did directors like this one, search any theme before they make a movie?.
The film was also made in Georgia, and has a Georgian director.
What interest could Georgians possibly have in the war in Chechnya, other than as an excuse to present Russians in a way that makes Attila the Hun look like a Red Cross volunteer?
I don't mind bias in films, and most war films are biased one way or another.
But this film was designed from the start as totally dishonest, shameless attack on Russia, without any artistic or other ambition beyond and above smearing Russia.
I have seen lots of propaganda films in my life, but this is on a level that betrays a kind of mentality that I find absolutely baffling.
Brutal and honest movie.
I will not elaborate movie plot in detail, it is a remake of the award winning movie of the same name from 1948, and of course it is a similar story.
But I must say that it is a important movie about a forgotten conflict in Chechnya.
The reception of the movie was poor in EU and it is clear why.
The Director shows the reality of European and Russian politics, the europeans are indifferent to the problems of small oppressed nations in the former SSSR, and reluctant to do anything against the Russian terror.
I was surprised to see an European movie which clearly takes sides with the victim and does not try to detach from the conflict, something which has always been popular among the political correct movie-makers, quoting both sides are equally guilty".
And we see a surprising accurate depiction of the training in the Russian army, a traditionally brutal thing.
All in all, a must see movie.
All in all, a must see movie.
Incredibly moving anti war film based on the Second Russian - Chechen War. This film is set during the Second Russo Chechen War and deals, essentially, with one families fate.
The film opens with Russian soldiers filming the aftermath of an 'anti-terrorist operation' – which is essentially destroying a Chechen village and executing civilians.
One of the families's affected have two boys and Hadji escapes with his baby brother.
After an arduous journey his path crosses that of Carole (Berenice Bejo) who works for an NGO.Her initial reticence is soon replaced by affection as she tries to care for the young boy who has been so traumatised that he has stopped speaking.
We also get the story of the common Russian soldier as shown through the experiences of Kolia (Maksim Emelyanov) and the dehumanising way they are made to conform.What follows is a tragic, moving and plaintive anti-war film.
The film goes almost black and white in places as if war drains the colour from life – which for many it must surely do.
The performances are amazing and I have to admit I was moved to tears on more than one occasion.
Written and directed by Michel Hazanavicius who also directed 'The Artist' – he has managed to capture the feeling of fear, desperation and hope all at the same time and make a two hour film that seems to slip past in mere minutes.
One of the more praiseworthy films I have seen for a while and indeed worthy of all the plaudits and more..
The performance by the little boy Hadji (played by Abdul Khalim Mamutsiev) is simply outstanding.
The settings – the villages under Russian bombardment, the refugees on the road...
At times this film just hits you in the face.
The Russian army scenes do this literally.
And from what I understand of new Russian army recruits it can be even worse.The story does have a suitable ending.
Annette Bening has a minor role and is eclipsed by Abdul and Berenice Bejo, the human rights worker.
Definitely a very engaging film – but be prepared!.
A Tragically Great Film.
Academy Award winning director, Michel Hazanavicius, directs a beautiful film about four interconnected stories that face the tragedies of the Chechnya War. I honestly was not even aware of what this war entailed until I saw this film.
Hazanavicius previously directed the Oscar winning film The Artist (2011) and thus takes a very dramatic turn with his newest feature.
The Search is not lighthearted at all like his previous films.
The film opens up to a soldier filming a family being slaughtered as a form of entertainment.
The entire mood becomes dark, and that effect is not due to the grayish tint that happens to be present throughout the film.
The darkness is due to the realities of war and the effects it has on everyone from young men thrown into mandatory military service to children left as orphans.
The plot follows Hadji, a young lad who witnesses his family's murder by the soldiers at the beginning of the film.
Hadji flees his home in search of someplace safer and is reluctant to be picked up by refugees and taken to an orphanage.
He does not know however that his teenage sister, Raissa, managed to survive.
She begins to search for Hadji, whom she believes is still alive.
The plot thickens as we now move on to see a young Russian teen, Kolia, recruited for military duty.
This becomes the most disturbing part of the film.
As we see Hadji's life slowly improving after befriending a human rights worker, the film follows the slow deterioration of a young man's morals by the facets of war.
Kolia transforms from a normal teenage boy into a ruthless killing machine that embodies no hope of redemption.
He learns to kill innocence and leave what's left of his childhood behind.
This transition in the film offers an interesting perspective.
The audience goes from watching the horrors caused by war to sympathizing with a Russian soldier who becomes responsible for more destruction in the future.
Kolia never wanted to join the Russian military shown by his suicide attempts and frequent moments of hysteria.
Hadji obviously didn't want his parents murdered.
Therefore, both stories offer two dramatically different sides of war traumas.
While Hadji's future remains hopeful however, Kolia's spirals downhill into a black box of despair.
It's interesting to see that the people responsible for warfare have the most tragic endings.
The point is, no matter which side you're on, war offers no benefits to the players directly involved.
It transforms and configures humanity into a world nobody would want to live in.
Children are forced to mature way beyond their years, and families are torn apart.With the help of the human rights worker, Carole, Hadji's situation goes from horrible to optimistic.
Berenice Bejo plays Carole.
Once again working with Michel Hazanavicius, the Oscar nominated actress delivers another masterful performance.
Carole houses young Hadji after seeing him wandering the streets alone and without any provisions.
The human rights worker establishes a connection with Hadji after several unsuccessful tries due to Hadji's complete silence.
With her persistent attitude in trying to raise support and awareness for the innocent victims of the Chechnya War, she ignites a burning passion to help especially after hearing other victims' stories.
The best scene showing this determination and relentless attitude is when Carole is on the phone with a European Union correspondent.
She has been trying to arrange a meeting to inform people of the issues she witnesses every day.
Her speech, backed with a mixed range of power, frustration, and genuine care, not only gets her a meeting but also leaves the audience wanting to help the situation too.
Although family is destroyed in this film, it offers a positive alternative.
Carole wants to adopt Hadji, but we know that Raissa is still alive and searching for him.
This puts us in a perplexing spot because we want both Carole and Raissa to achieve what they have been searching for all along.
Carole searches for inspiration and meaning to her work and life finding that in Hadji, while Raissa searches for what's left of her family.
The Search offers multiple perspectives at the negative effects of war.
The soldier, innocent child, and maturing teenager face direct effects while the orphanage head, EU correspondent, and human rights worker face indirect effects.
The complexity of each situation is made so easy to watch and understand.
Michel Hazanavicius is a great director, and I will always continue to search for his future films.