Since I do not agree in principle with many recent art-house-type reviews of Le Pacte
des Loups, it is no revelation that I was bound to come away from this wonderful film thinking that perhaps its critics should give inspirational credit where inspirational credit is truly due.

As a student and author of French historical fiction, I am not so quick as others to tip my tricorne to the Merchant Ivory gang for any creative debt supposedly owed them by Brotherhood for the latter's depiction of "ancien régime meets Kung Fu" in the Age of Voltaire. No, let us be frank ( a pun intended? ): this thoroughly modern masterpiece comprises a rip-roaring blend of adventure, mystery and history - quite simply put, Dumas père on mind-expanding drugs!

Certainly, were that same great novelist still with us, he would go see Le Pacte and leave the theatre cheering ~ what other reaction might we expect from the foremost European expert on "swordsmanship" in his day?

In all seriousness, Brotherhood does not fail to remind this movie goer of exactly why good guys battle villains whatever the milieu: evil is all that which does not respect the sanctity of life - especially those human beings who are void of compassion for their fellow creatures.

On a scale of one to ten, this CyberSybil rates Le Pacte an Eleven!

Vive les loups! (The beautiful, four-legged wolves, that is...)    by Olivia Peyton