With La Cache, director Lionel Baier transports audiences into a compelling family drama set against the backdrop of the historic May 1968 protests in France. Blending sensitivity with humour, the film explores the weight of unspoken truths and buried memories in a confined domestic space. Now showing in cinemas, La Cache offers a unique perspective on a pivotal moment in history.
An Exceptional Cast in a Tale of Secrets and Rebellion
The story follows Christophe, a nine-year-old boy who finds himself hidden away in his grandparents’ Parisian apartment during the upheaval of May 1968. Alongside him are his uncles and great-grandmother, all confined within the walls of the family home. At the centre of their retreat lies a mysterious hiding place—one that gradually unveils long-held secrets and repressed histories.
Lionel Baier crafts a vibrant family portrait set in a period of social and political transformation. The film’s rich storytelling is heightened by a stellar cast, including Dominique Reymond (Chien de la Casse), Liliane Rovère (Dix pour Cent), William Lebghil (Joli Joli), and the legendary Michel Blanc (Les Bronzés font du ski), delivering one of his most moving performances.
A Different Lens on May 68: Domestic Tensions Reflect National Unrest
While May 1968 is often portrayed through the lens of mass protests and student uprisings, La Cache shifts the focus to the intimate sphere of a single family. Inspired by Christophe Boltanski’s autobiographical novel, the film takes creative liberties by making the revolutionary period central to the narrative. While the book touches on May 68 only briefly, Baier transforms it into the film’s core theme.
The apartment in Rue de Grenelle becomes a microcosm of the external world, mirroring the clash between youthful idealism and established traditions. As France is engulfed in demonstrations, those inside the flat confront their own generational divides, revealing how personal and political struggles intertwine. Baier captures this duality with remarkable nuance, illustrating how May 68 symbolised both hope and turmoil for those who lived through it.
Unspoken Truths and the Power of Silence
Despite moments of heated debate, the true weight of La Cache lies in its silences. The film masterfully conveys emotion through subtle glances and the absence of words, allowing hidden wounds and long-suppressed truths to surface. Baier skilfully weaves these unspoken tensions into the fabric of the narrative, demonstrating that what remains unsaid can be just as powerful as what is voiced.
A Symbol of the Past That Shapes the Present
Far from being just a physical space, the film’s central hiding place becomes a metaphor for the past—secrets buried yet still shaping the identities of those who carry them. Through a delicate balance of humour and gravitas, La Cache reminds audiences that sometimes, fiction and comedy are the most effective ways to process history’s weight.
Blending emotional depth with moments of levity, La Cache is an evocative exploration of memory, identity, and the way history lingers in the present. Now showing in cinemas, it is a must-see for lovers of thought-provoking cinema.