László Nemes' *Moulin* Unveils a Conventional Yet Tense Portrait of French Resistance Hero Jean Moulin at Cannes

The film *Moulin* tracks Jean Moulin (Gilles Lellouche), a French Resistance leader parachuted into occupied France in 1943 to unify disparate resistance factions under Charles de Gaulle’s exiled authority. Shortly after beginning coordination, Moulin is betrayed, arrested at a Gestapo headquarters, and interrogated by Klaus Barbie (Lars Eidinger). The interrogators seek intelligence on the forthcoming Allied invasion; Moulin repeatedly refuses to disclose the location. The narrative culminates in a series of brutal torture scenes, including mock executions and electric shocks, emphasizing his steadfast resistance.

The Guardian

Jean Moulin (1899-1943) was appointed by de Gaulle as head of the National Council of the Resistance, tasked with merging regional groups into a unified network. Klaus Barbie, dubbed the “Butcher of Lyon,” served as a Gestapo officer responsible for suppressing resistance activities and committing war crimes throughout occupied France. The film is directed by László Nemes, known for *Son of Saul* and *Sunset*. Lellouche portrays Moulin; Eidinger portrays Barbie; Louise Bourgoin appears as the fictional Comtesse de Forez, Moulin’s civilian liaison.

The Guardian

The Guardian calls the film “basically pretty conventionally acted, conventionally directed, conventionally conceived,” noting its sepia-toned aesthetic and comparing its tone to the 1970s BBC series *Secret Army*. It praises production design and Lellouche’s performance but criticizes the final scene for “sentimental stirring” and a “bizarre temper-tantrum” from Barbie, suggesting Cannes audiences may have expected a more innovative approach.

The Guardian

The Hollywood Reporter highlights the film’s “formal dispassion,” emphasizing the absence of swelling music or rousing speeches. It commends Eidinger’s “frightening calm” as the most electric element, while noting Nemes spares viewers many graphic details, focusing instead on procedural tension. Both reviews agree the film’s strength lies in its depiction of torture and Moulin’s moral resolve.

Hollywood Reporter

By dramatizing Moulin’s refusal to reveal Allied plans, the film reinforces narratives of French resistance heroism. Its portrayal of Klaus Barbie also revisits his post-war legacy; the Hollywood Reporter notes that “the good ol’ US of A helped Barbie avoid imprisonment for three decades after the war,” underscoring ongoing debates about accountability for wartime atrocities.

The Guardian

The Guardian emphasizes the film’s conventionality and sentimentality, while the Hollywood Reporter stresses its austere, procedural tone. Both outlets praise Eidinger’s performance but differ on whether the film’s stylistic choices support or undermine its historical subject.

The Guardian

• “Butcher of Lyon” — Klaus Barbie, nickname used in the film.

The Guardian

• “Jacques Martel” — Alias adopted by Jean Moulin during interrogation.

The Guardian

• “Do it for France” — Plea uttered by a fellow prisoner in the film’s climax.

Hollywood Reporter

*Moulin* entered the Cannes competition in May 2026.

The Guardian