Set during World War II, Charlotte Gray deals with this significant time in history when a great number of men died in war. War films often focus on men at the front line while women who are mothers, wives and lovers lament the loss of their son, husband or loved one. But for the film’s protagonist, whose name gives the film its title, the situation is different. At a time when the social and political climate called for change, Charlotte was a guerrilla soldier with the French Resistance fighting the Germans, while on the personal side, she was looking for her boyfriend Peter, a missing pilot. Overall she was a woman caught between her country and her love.
 This is another war story retold through a woman placed in an unfamiliar territory and situation. The unusual state of the world at war is signalled by the various attitudes of the villagers toward war, the differing battle fronts and the fake identities such as the false name that Charlotte takes, Dominique Gilbert. Regardless, Charlotte chooses to go her own way. Cate Blanchett, who gave a superb performance in Elizabeth and Oscar and Lucinda, plays the strong and dignified yet warm Charlotte Gray.
 (Byun Jai-ran)