"A Secret" (2007, Un secret) (2025)

About the Book

The film "A Secret" is based on the novel Un secret by Philippe Grimbert. This semi-autobiographical novel was published in 2004 and has been translated into several languages. The story delves into themes of family secrets, identity, and the impact of the past on the present.

About the Author

Philippe Grimbert is a French psychoanalyst and author. His work often explores the psychological dimensions of family dynamics and personal history. Un secret is one of his most acclaimed works, earning him the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens in 2004.

Film Adaptation

The film adaptation, directed by Claude Miller, remains largely faithful to the novel. It captures the essence of Grimbert's narrative, focusing on the emotional and psychological complexities of uncovering family secrets. The film effectively translates the novel's exploration of memory and identity to the screen, maintaining the depth and nuance of the original story.

Historical Background

The film "A Secret" is based on the novel by Philippe Grimbert, which is a semi-autobiographical account of his own family history. The story is set against the backdrop of World War II and the Holocaust, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the impact of secrets on family dynamics.

The Real Events

• Family Secrets: The narrative revolves around a Jewish family in France during the Nazi occupation. The protagonist, based on Grimbert himself, uncovers a hidden family secret that reveals the true fate of his relatives during the war.
• Jewish Identity: The story delves into the struggles of Jewish families in France who faced persecution and were forced to hide their identities to survive.
• Survival and Loss: Many Jewish families, including Grimbert's, experienced profound loss during the Holocaust, with family members being deported to concentration camps.

Accuracy of the Film

The film, directed by Claude Miller and co-written by Natalie Carter, stays true to the essence of Grimbert's novel. It captures the emotional depth and complexity of the family's history, while also highlighting the broader historical context of the Holocaust in France.

While some artistic liberties are taken for dramatic effect, the core events and emotional truths remain faithful to the real-life experiences of Philippe Grimbert and his family.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, A Secret has an approval rating of 80% based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 7.00/10. The site's consensus reads: A "Secret is poignant, sad, and beautifully crafted, featuring fine performances that stave off a drift toward soap opera territory". On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".