Directed by Xavier Giannoli, who co-writes the screenplay with Jacques Fieschi, Les Rayons et les ombres continues the director’s tradition of sweeping historical dramas following Illusions perdues. This historical drama, starring Jean Dujardin, Nastya Golubeva, and August Diehl, explores the true story of Jean and Corinne Luchaire during World War II. The film hits theaters in France on March 18, 2026.
At the center of the story, Jean Luchaire, a prominent journalist during the Occupation, finds his fate drastically altered as France sinks deeper into collaboration. A figure of both social and political circles, he navigates a world where personal ambitions, ideological concessions, and power struggles intertwine. Alongside him, his daughter Corinne grows up in the shadow of this controversial path, torn between family loyalty and awareness of the harsh historical truths.
The film delves into the gradual spiral of collaboration, examining its underlying mechanisms and personal repercussions. Through the relationship between a father and his daughter, it probes themes of inheritance, responsibility, and how one generation bears the weight of the decisions made by the previous one. Without revealing the tragic ending of this journey, the story focuses on the moral and emotional tensions that ripple through the Luchaire family amidst a deeply divided France.
Following in the footsteps of recent French historical epics, this feature film is backed by extensive research into the life of Jean Luchaire, a journalist and press director convicted after Liberation. Xavier Giannoli returns here to a familiar territory of analysis: the role of elites facing the seismic shifts—political and moral—of their era. Filming took place across France and Central Europe, with meticulous attention paid to recreating the settings and atmospheres of the Occupation period.
With a runtime of 3 hours and 15 minutes and an ambitious narrative scope, the film aligns with the tradition of dense historical dramas, reminiscent of certain European epics centered on the Second World War. Its direction emphasizes gray areas, silence, and moral dilemmas, blending intimate storytelling with political re-enactment in a dramatic tone. The film is geared toward viewers who appreciate complex historical narratives and nuanced character portraits, continuing a tradition of works that explore the moral compromises and fractures of the 20th century.
Les Rayons et les ombres
Film | 2026
Release in cinemas: March 18, 2026
Drama, Historical | Length: 3h15
Directed by Xavier Giannoli | Starring Jean Dujardin, Nastya Golubeva, August Diehl
Original title: Les Rayons et les ombres
Country: France
With Les Rayons et les ombres, Xavier Giannoli presents a sweeping historical drama that explores a father-son relationship set against the turbulent backdrop of the Occupation. Combining political intrigue with personal tragedy, the film delves into how individual decisions in times of upheaval can leave a lasting imprint on family legacies.
To extend your in-theatres experience, check out the March movie releases, discover the must-see films right now, and browse our top historical films of the year.
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