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Come What May (2016) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Come What May (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 114 min · French
JustWatch #25,715 8
Directed by
Christian Carion

With World War II approaching, a French village is evacuated, leaving a young German boy named Max separated from his family. His father, Hans, who opposes the Nazi regime, undertakes a dangerous mission to find him. Joining Hans is a Scottish soldier attempting to return home through the turmoil of war-torn Europe, and together they face numerous challenges as they navigate a continent in conflict.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Come What May (2016)

Where can you watch Come What May? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Come What May Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Come What May (2016), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Paul

    As the village mayor, Paul is a dedicated leader who strives to maintain order and uphold the republican spirit amidst chaos. His character embodies strength and courage, as he prioritizes the safety of his community while facing his own fears and dilemmas.

    • 🏛️ Leader
    • 🤝 Determined
  • Mado

    Mado is Paul's wife, who finds comfort in music during the turmoil of war. Her character represents the emotional anchor for the family, using her passion to maintain hope and connection while dealing with the uncertainty of their future.

    • 🎵 Musician
    • 💕 Supportive
  • Suzanne

    Suzanne is a resourceful young teacher who emerges as a guiding figure during the crisis. Her empathy and quick thinking allow her to navigate the treacherous routes to safety, reflecting the strength of spirit and ingenuity in difficult times.

    • 👩‍🏫 Teacher
    • 🧭 Resourceful
  • Hans

    Hans is a young German boy who becomes a symbol of innocence lost. Having lost his father, he experiences the worst of war's effects, yet he holds onto the hope of reuniting with his loved one, capturing the tragic consequences of conflict on children.

    • 👦 Child
    • 💔 Grief
  • Percy

    Percy is a Scottish officer, embodying resilience and determination. His journey to find a way back to England showcases the camaraderie formed among refugees and soldiers amidst war, as they navigate sheer desperation.

    • 🪖 Soldier
    • 🤝 Ally

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:10

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Setting

Where and When Does Come What May Take Place?

The setting of Come What May (2016): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

May 10, 1940

The story is set during World War II, specifically at the onset of the German invasion of France. This period was marked by rapid military advances, significant battles, and the ensuing chaos that forced civilians to make harrowing choices about their future.

Location

Lebucquière, Ardennes region, France, Belgium

Lebucquière is a small village situated in the Ardennes region, known for its scenic landscapes and close-knit community. The village becomes the backdrop for human struggles during the German Army's advance, representing the heartache of displacement and the yearning for safety amid the turmoil of war.

  • 🏡 Village
  • 🌳 Countryside

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:10

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3 major themes

Come What May Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Come What May (2016) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Loss

    The theme of loss resonates throughout the movie, as characters grapple with the emotional toll of separation and abandonment during wartime. Families are torn apart, and lives are irrevocably changed, highlighting the profound impact of conflict on personal relationships and community bonds.

  • Survival

    Survival is a central theme, as the villagers face a dire choice between fleeing their homes or risking capture amid advancing enemy forces. The characters’ resourcefulness and resilience illustrate the human instinct to protect loved ones and seek safety against overwhelming odds.

  • Hope

    Despite the surrounding despair, hope emerges as a poignant theme. Mado finds solace in music, while the journey of Paul, Suzanne, Hans, and Percy represents the hope of reuniting with family and escaping the ravages of war, symbolizing the enduring human spirit.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:10

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Character & theme questions

Come What May Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Come What May (2016): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The story takes place in the small village of Lebucquière, located in the Ardennes region of France. This rural countryside setting becomes a focal point for the human struggles during the German Army's advance, representing the heartbreak of displacement and the yearning for safety amid war-torn Europe.

  • lebucquière
  • ardennes
  • village
  • france
  • countryside
  • setting
Q2

When does the story take place?

The movie is set during World War II, specifically on May 10, 1940, at the onset of the German invasion of France. This period was marked by rapid military advances and the chaos that forced civilians to make harrowing decisions about their futures.

  • world war 2
  • 1940
  • may 1940
  • german invasion
  • france
  • historical period
Q3

What are the main themes of the movie?

The film explores three central themes: loss, as families are torn apart and lives are irrevocably changed by conflict; survival, as villagers face the dire choice between fleeing or risking capture; and hope, as characters maintain the human spirit through music and the journey of reuniting with loved ones.

  • themes
  • loss
  • survival
  • hope
  • war
  • emotional impact
Q4

Who is Hans and what does he represent?

Hans is a young German boy who becomes separated from his family during the evacuation. He symbolizes innocence lost amid the chaos of war, experiencing the tragic impact of conflict on children while holding onto hope of reuniting with his loved ones.

  • hans
  • german boy
  • innocence
  • separation
  • child
  • war victim
Q5

Who is Percy and what is his role in the story?

Percy is a Scottish officer who embodies resilience and determination. His journey to find a way back to England showcases the camaraderie formed between refugees and soldiers as they navigate desperation and war-torn Europe together.

  • percy
  • scottish officer
  • soldier
  • resilience
  • journey
  • england
Q6

What role does Mado play in the movie?

Mado is Paul's wife and serves as the emotional anchor for her family. She finds comfort in music during the turmoil of war, using her passion to maintain hope and connection while dealing with the uncertainty of their future.

  • mado
  • music
  • emotional anchor
  • wife
  • hopeful
  • family
Q7

Who is Suzanne and what is her significance?

Suzanne is a resourceful young teacher who emerges as a guiding figure during the crisis. Her empathy and quick thinking allow her to navigate treacherous routes to safety, reflecting the strength of spirit and ingenuity that civilians displayed during wartime.

  • suzanne
  • teacher
  • resourceful
  • guide
  • safety
  • civilian strength
Q8

How does the movie portray the impact of war on civilians?

The film depicts civilians facing impossible choices between fleeing their homes or risking capture, highlighting the devastation of displacement, the breakdown of community bonds, and the profound emotional toll of separation and loss during wartime.

  • civilians
  • war impact
  • displacement
  • evacuation
  • family separation
  • trauma
Q9

What is the significance of the Ardennes region setting?

The Ardennes region, spanning parts of France and Belgium, serves as a picturesque but dangerous backdrop. Its scenic landscapes contrast sharply with the turmoil of war, emphasizing the vulnerability of rural communities caught in the path of the German advance.

  • ardennes
  • belgium
  • rural
  • countryside
  • landscape
  • war zone
Q10

How does music function thematically in the movie?

Music represents hope and emotional resilience. Through Mado's connection to music, the film illustrates how artistic expression helps characters maintain hope and connection amid the uncertainty and trauma of war.

  • music
  • hope
  • emotional resilience
  • art
  • comfort
  • connection
Q11

Who is Paul and what is his leadership role?

Paul is the village mayor who strives to maintain order and uphold the republican spirit amidst chaos. His character embodies strength and courage as he prioritizes community safety while confronting his own fears and dilemmas during the crisis.

  • paul
  • mayor
  • leader
  • community
  • responsibility
  • village

Movie threads

More Movies Like Come What May, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Come What May tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Wartime Journey Stories like Come What May

Desperate characters navigate war-torn lands in a quest for survival and reunion. If you liked the perilous odyssey in Come What May, explore more movies about desperate journeys through war-torn landscapes. These similar stories feature characters grappling with survival, loss, and the faint hope of reunion amidst the chaos of conflict.

  • perilous
  • anxious
  • desperate
  • hopeful
  • heart-wrenching
  • melancholic
  • Tone: tense, desperate, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, forward-moving
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a linear or episodic journey where the setting itself—the war zone—is the primary antagonist. Progress is measured in small victories and survival against overwhelming odds, with the central goal serving as a fragile beacon of hope. The journey is often physical, mapping the emotional and geographical distance from despair towards a tenuous possibility of safety or connection.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on the physical and emotional toll of traversing a conflict area. They capture a specific vibe of anxious peril mixed with determined hope, where the pacing is steady and the intensity remains high, mirroring the unrelenting pressure of a wartime environment.

Movies with Unlikely Wartime Partnerships like Come What May

Strangers from opposing sides must trust each other to survive overwhelming danger. Fans of the partnership between Hans and Percy in Come What May will enjoy these films about unexpected alliances formed in times of war. Discover similar stories where trust is built under fire and characters overcome differences for a greater cause.

  • unlikely duo
  • tense
  • hopeful
  • character-driven
  • desperate
  • trust
  • Tone: tense, hopeful, character-driven
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is character-driven, focusing on the evolving relationship between the central pair or group. Initial hostility or wariness gives way to pragmatic cooperation, which deepens into mutual reliance and sometimes profound respect. The external crisis serves to constantly test and strengthen this bond, making the partnership's survival as compelling as the characters' physical survival.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core narrative pattern of building trust and partnership under duress. They are united by a specific emotional mix of tension from the external threat and the hopeful, sometimes heart-warming, development of human connection in the most inhumane conditions.

Every angle

Come What May (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Come What May in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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