The Rays and Shadows

2026 3h 19m FR

🙌

7.5

BANGER

★7.5TMDB · 118

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jean and Otto, a French newspaperman and a young German Francophile, are fighting for peace in Europe. Jean’s daughter, Corinne, is launching a brilliant acting career in the film world, but war breaks out and France is occupied. The two friends have a major role to play in this new France. Jean becomes a big press baron and an ardent advocate of collaboration with the occupying forces, while Otto becomes the Reich’s ambassador in Paris. Corinne, meanwhile, finds herself thrown into the lion’s pit.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jean Dujardin
Jean Luchaire
Nastya Golubeva Carax
Corinne Luchaire
August Diehl
Otto Abetz
Olivier Chantreau
Guy de Voisins
Anna Próchniak
Lydia Rogers
Lucile Vignolles
Suzanne de Bruyker
Chloé Astor
Françoise Luchaire
Vincent Colombe
Guy Crouzet

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Xavier Giannoli
Writers: Xavier Giannoli, Jacques Fieschi, Patrick Godeau
Languages: French, German
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 199 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, German.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Xavier Giannoli, shot by Christophe Beaucarne. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Guillaume Roussel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Jean Dujardin and Nastya Golubeva Carax and August Diehl carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt36187539 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Xavier Giannoli directs. Christophe Beaucarne behind the camera. Guillaume Roussel scores. A long sit — settle in. Produced in France. Dialogue in French, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 199 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Released this year — you're seeing it while it's still in the cultural conversation.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, German.
4Directed by Xavier Giannoli, shot by Christophe Beaucarne. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Guillaume Roussel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Jean Dujardin and Nastya Golubeva Carax and August Diehl carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt36187539 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.