Woman Between Wolf and Dog

The 1979 Belgian-French drama, directed by André Delvaux, narrates the life of Lieve (Marie-Christine Barrault), a Belgian woman whose fate becomes entwined with the events of World War II. In 1939, her husband Adriaan (Rutger Hauer), of German descent, decides to join the German army, believing it to be his duty. Lieve remains in occupied Belgium and, disagreeing with her husband's convictions, shelters François (Roger van Hool), a member of the Resistance hiding from the Nazis. A profound attachment develops between Lieve and François, evolving into love and placing her in a complex moral dilemma. After the war ends, Adriaan returns home as a war criminal, leaving Lieve in a situation where her emotions and duties are in conflict. The film delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and complex human emotions against the backdrop of historical upheavals, offering a deep insight into the internal conflict of the protagonist torn between her duty to her husband and newfound feelings for a man embodying resistance against the occupiers.