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Characters & Themes

The Statement (2003) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2003 · 120 min · English
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Directed by
Norman Jewison
Starring
Tilda Swinton, Michael Caine, Alan Bates, Jeremy Northam
Budget
$27M

Following the aftermath of war, a determined magistrate and a resolute colonel launch a dangerous mission to apprehend a former collaborator who has concealed their identity. Their pursuit exposes long-buried secrets and challenges their convictions as they confront complex moral questions. As the truth emerges, loyalties are questioned, and the distinction between justice and potential redemption becomes increasingly unclear in this suspenseful drama.

On this page (9)
  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 The book behind the movie
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like The Statement
  9. 9 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Statement Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Statement (2003), 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.

  • Pierre Brossard

    Pierre Brossard is a conflicted character, a former Nazi collaborator who sought refuge after orchestrating the execution of Jewish lives during World War II. His actions from the past haunt him, leading him to a life of deception and paranoia. Brossard's struggle between survival and accountability forms the crux of his character arc.

    • 👤 Protagonist
    • ⚔️ Conflict
    • 🏃‍♂️ Survivor
  • David Manenbaum

    David Manenbaum plays the role of a hitman tasked with delivering justice for Brossard's past crimes. His determination to see Brossard brought to justice illustrates a personal vendetta intertwined with larger themes of morality and vengeance. Manenbaum's unexpected demise shifts the investigation's focus and escalates the tension surrounding Brossard's fate.

    • 🔪 Vengeance
    • 🕵️‍♂️ Assassin
    • ⚡ Tension
  • Annemarie Livi

    played by Tilda Swinton

    Judge Annemarie Livi is a resolute and determined investigator dedicated to uncovering the truth behind Brossard's past. Despite facing challenges and a lack of cooperation, her unyielding drive pushes her to connect the dots over decades of unresolved inquiries. Livi represents the quest for justice and the moral imperative of confronting historical wrongs.

    • 👩‍⚖️ Justice
    • 🔍 Detective
    • 💪 Resilience
  • Colonel Roux

    played by Michael Caine

    Colonel Roux is a key investigator who partners with Judge Livi in her pursuit of justice. His experience and insight into the complexities of the case highlight the collaboration between law enforcement and judicial systems. Roux's commitment adds depth to the investigation, emphasizing the struggle against powerful entities that benefit from silence.

    • 👮‍♂️ Investigator
    • 🗝️ Key
    • 📜 Legacy
  • Nicole Brossard

    Nicole, Pierre's estranged wife, embodies the personal turmoil caused by her husband's past actions. She is a maid in Marseille, struggling with her circumstances and the complex feelings surrounding their reunion. Her character adds an emotional layer to Brossard's journey as he seeks solace while confronting his haunting legacy.

    • 💔 Estrangement
    • 👩‍🍳 Maid
    • 😟 Struggle

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:02

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Setting

Where and When Does The Statement Take Place?

The setting of The Statement (2003): 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

1944, 1980s

The film spans from the events of World War II in 1944 to the 1980s, highlighting the long-lasting effects of war and collaboration on individuals. During the 1980s, the societal context reflects ongoing struggles with the legacy of wartime actions and the quest for justice. This period is marked by increasing scrutiny of past atrocities and the complex interplay between memory and accountability.

Location

France, Marseille

The movie takes place primarily in France, with significant events unfolding in Marseille. France is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and as a backdrop for many significant historical events, including World War II. Marseille, a port city, has a storied past and serves as a crucial location as Brossard seeks refuge and confronts his past.

  • 🇫🇷 France
  • 🏙️ Marseille

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:02

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3 major themes

The Statement Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Statement (2003) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Justice

    The theme of justice runs deeply through the narrative as the main character, Pierre Brossard, faces the consequences of his past actions. A dedicated investigating judge and her partner uncover layers of conspiracy while attempting to achieve accountability for wartime atrocities. The quest for justice poses moral questions about vengeance, retribution, and the implications of long-buried secrets.

  • Investigation

    The film intricately weaves an investigation into Brossard's past, focusing on the relentless efforts of Judge Annemarie Livi and Colonel Roux. Their determination sheds light on the complex web of past connections and the dangers of seeking truth in the face of power. The investigative theme emphasizes the need to confront historical injustices and the challenges therein.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal emerges as a crucial theme as Brossard grapples with trust among his allies and the impact of past relationships. His reliance on the Catholic community and old comrades illustrates the fragility of loyalty when survival is at stake. As the investigation intensifies, the cracks in Brossard's trust are revealed, culminating in unforeseen consequences.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:02

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Character & theme questions

The Statement Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Statement (2003): 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 Statement set?

The movie takes place primarily in France, with significant scenes unfolding in Marseille. The port city of Marseille serves as a crucial location where Brossard seeks refuge and confronts his past, leveraging its historical significance and diverse environment.

  • france
  • marseille
  • setting
  • location
  • port city
Q2

When does The Statement take place?

The film spans from 1944 during World War II to the 1980s, highlighting the long-lasting effects of war and collaboration. The 1980s setting reflects a period of increasing scrutiny of past atrocities and the complex interplay between memory and accountability.

  • 1944
  • 1980s
  • world war ii
  • time period
  • decades
Q3

What are the main themes of The Statement?

The Statement explores three interconnected themes: justice, as characters pursue accountability for wartime atrocities; investigation, as officials uncover layers of conspiracy surrounding past crimes; and betrayal, as trust among allies fractures under the pressure of survival and revelation of past actions.

  • justice
  • investigation
  • betrayal
  • themes
  • wartime crimes
Q4

Who is Pierre Brossard?

Pierre Brossard is a former Nazi collaborator who orchestrated the execution of Jewish lives during World War II. After the war, he lived as a fugitive, haunted by his past actions and relying on the Catholic community and old comrades for protection. His struggle between survival and facing accountability forms the crux of his character.

  • pierre brossard
  • nazi collaborator
  • fugitive
  • wwii crimes
Q5

Who is Judge Annemarie Livi?

Judge Annemarie Livi is a resolute and determined investigating magistrate dedicated to uncovering the truth behind Brossard's wartime activities. Despite facing challenges and lack of cooperation, her unyielding drive pushes her to connect the dots over decades of unresolved inquiries, representing the quest for justice and moral imperative of confronting historical wrongs.

  • annemarie livi
  • judge
  • investigator
  • justice
  • wwii investigation
Q6

Who is Colonel Roux?

Colonel Roux is a key investigator who partners with Judge Livi in pursuing justice for Brossard's past crimes. His experience and insight into the complexities of the case highlight the collaboration between law enforcement and judicial systems, emphasizing the struggle against powerful entities that benefit from silence.

  • colonel roux
  • investigator
  • law enforcement
  • partnership
Q7

Why is Marseille important to The Statement?

Marseille serves as a critical backdrop where Brossard seeks refuge and ultimately confronts his past. As a port city with a storied history, it provides the ideal setting for a fugitive to hide while also symbolizing the hidden complexities of France's wartime collaboration and the ongoing struggle with historical memory.

  • marseille
  • port city
  • refuge
  • historical memory
Q8

Who is Nicole Brossard?

Nicole Brossard is Pierre Brossard's estranged wife, working as a maid in Marseille. She embodies the personal turmoil caused by her husband's past actions, representing the human cost of collaboration and the complex emotions surrounding their reunion as Brossard confronts his haunting legacy.

  • nicole brossard
  • estranged wife
  • personal turmoil
  • marseille
Q9

What does The Statement say about justice?

The Statement presents justice as complex and morally ambiguous. The film poses questions about vengeance versus retribution, and whether true justice is achievable when powerful conspiracies protect war criminals. The ending, where Brossard is assassinated by his allies rather than facing trial, creates a bittersweet resolution that exposes corruption over achieving clear-cut justice.

  • justice
  • vengeance
  • moral questions
  • trial
  • corruption
Q10

How does betrayal factor into The Statement?

Betrayal emerges as a crucial theme as Brossard grapples with trust among his allies and the impact of past relationships. His reliance on the Catholic community and old comrades illustrates the fragility of loyalty when survival is at stake. As the investigation intensifies, the cracks in Brossard's trust are revealed, leading to unforeseen consequences.

  • betrayal
  • loyalty
  • trust
  • allies
  • survival
Q11

How does The Statement handle WWII legacy?

The Statement addresses WWII legacy by examining the long-term consequences of collaboration and the Holocaust. The film shows how wartime actions continue to affect generations, with the 1980s setting reflecting ongoing struggles with memory, accountability, and the systemic obstruction of justice that allowed war criminals to evade punishment for decades.

  • world war ii
  • holocaust
  • collaboration
  • legacy
  • historical atrocities

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Statement, by Mood & Story

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

Movies about investigating historical crimes like The Statement

Investigations into historical atrocities that uncover systemic corruption and moral decay. For viewers who liked The Statement, this list features similar movies about uncovering historical atrocities and war crimes. These tense investigative thrillers explore the grim legacy of the past, political cover-ups, and the moral ambiguity of seeking justice decades later.

  • tense
  • methodical
  • grim
  • paranoid
  • determined
  • historical
  • Tone: tense, grim, morally complex
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives typically involve a present-day investigation that gradually peels back layers of official secrecy and personal denial surrounding a historical event. The protagonist faces institutional resistance and personal danger, leading to a climax that often reveals the widespread nature of the crime and the fragility of justice.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a central focus on the process of investigating a dark historical event, generating suspense from the uncovering of secrets rather than action. They feature a heavy emotional weight, a tense tone, and often a bittersweet or bleak conclusion about the nature of truth and redemption.

Morally complex chase thrillers like The Statement

Pursuits where the chase raises more ethical questions than it answers. If you enjoyed the tense cat-and-mouse game and moral dilemmas in The Statement, explore these films. They feature determined pursuers hunting elusive fugitives, but the chase is complicated by questions of guilt, redemption, and the corrupt systems that protect the guilty.

  • suspenseful
  • tense
  • paranoid
  • methodical
  • grim
  • ethical dilemma
  • Tone: tense, suspenseful, morally ambiguous
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative structure is a classic cat-and-mouse chase, but it is deepened by parallel character arcs. The pursuer's convictions are tested, while the fugitive's past and humanity are gradually revealed. The conflict forces all parties to confront difficult truths, leading to an ending that questions the very nature of the justice being sought.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are united by their use of the pursuit thriller format to explore weighty themes of guilt, complicity, and justice. They share a high-intensity, tense atmosphere, a steady pacing that builds suspense, and a conclusion that leans towards the bittersweet or ambiguous, prioritizing thematic resolution over tidy closure.

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Movies Like The Statement

Similar movies to The Statement: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

The Statement (2003) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Statement 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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