My Father Saved My Life (2001): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2001, My Father Saved My Life is a notable film directed by José Giovanni, running about 115 minutes.

What it’s about. Novelist and filmmaker Jose Giovanni turned to the remarkable true story of how his father helped him escape a date with the guillotine for this drama, which is based closely on events from his own life. During World War II, Manu (Vincent Lecoeur, as a character Giovanni modeled after himself) fought with the French Resistance, but near the end of the war he fell into a life of crime, and in 1947, 22-year-old Manu was arrested for his part in a bungled robbery that left a man dead. While Manu did not pull the fatal trigger, he refuses to say who did, since it would mean implicating his uncle, one of the few members of his family who has stood by him; Manu's brother is dead, and he turned his back on his father Joe (Bruno Cremer) years ago. Manu is sentenced to death, and while he protests his innocence, his attempts to escape from prison do little to convince anyone that he's telling the truth.

Who’s in it. My Father Saved My Life stars Bruno Cremer as Joe, Vincent Lecœur as Manu, Rufus as Grinval and Michelle Goddet as Emilie, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, My Father Saved My Life has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch My Father Saved My Life page.