What are the key story phases in Going and Coming Back?

The story of Going and Coming Back progresses through these phases: Framing the Memoir, Pre-War Bonds & Flight, Deception & Occupation, Post-War Reckoning.

How does Going and Coming Back end?

In the final act ("Post-War Reckoning"): Years later, Salomé returns as the sole survivor to investigate the château's past. She pieces together the wartime events, seeking closure and historical truth.

Going and Coming Back (1985) — AI Story Visualization

Name: Going and Coming Back
Genre: drama, war
Released: 1985
Rating: 6.5

Plot Analysis Summary

A wartime survival story framed by a post-war investigation into family tragedy and historical truth.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Framing the Memoir

Pre-War Bonds & Flight

Deception & Occupation

Post-War Reckoning

Salomé Lerner just finished writing an autobiography. She goes to a TV show called "Apostrophes", hosted by French TV showman Bernard Pivot. Pivot then imagines a film that could be created from her gripping story. A film entirely made of music because after seeing the young pianist Erik Berchot, Salomé believes seeing her long lost brother, who was a musician as well. A brother she had lost along with her parents in 1943. However, the Lerners did in fact escape the gestapo and might have based themselves in Paris...

Directed by

Claude Lelouch

Key Cast

Annie Girardot — Hélène Rivière
Jean-Louis Trintignant — Roland Rivière
Françoise Fabian — Sarah Lerner
Erik Berchot — Saloman Lerner
Michel Piccoli — Simon Lerner

Rating: 6.5/10 (22 votes)