A Very Long Engagement is a 2004 French film starring Audrey Tautou as Mathilde Donnay, a young woman whose fianc is missing in action during World War I. Mathilde and Manech made plans to wed prior to the war, when Manech was called away to fight for his country. After the war begins, Manech and four other soldiers are convicted of inflicting injuries upon themselves to avoid having to fight. As punishment, they are sent to serve in the deadly no mans land between the French and German trench lines. Mathilde cant accept that Manech died out there. She begins a journey to find Manech, but along the way uncovers information about the other four soldiers Manech was sentenced with, as well as the corrupt nature of the French militarys system of field justice. Audrey Tautou is the acclaimed French actress of such films as Amlie and Coco before Chanel, and she received three Best Actress nominations from international ceremonies for her performance in A Very Long Engagement.moreless