"Bon Voyage" takes us on a fast-paced, exciting trip through the turbulent, chaotic time when the Germans are sweeping through the country, government officials are scrambling to make decisions, the well-heeled are fleeing Paris for Bordeaux and prisoners are escaping as they are being transported elsewhere. Rappeneau gives us a broad, entertaining look at how an intriguing assortment of characters acted, and in addition, the film is as elegant to watch as it is dramatically involving.

Star Isabelle Adjani, who retains her beauty, has a showy role as Viviane, a self-absorbed actress who takes advantage of anyone who can help her continue in the style she prefers, and she is shown to be the sort who will get along no matter who is in power. It is a superb role for Adjani and she handles it smartly. Gérard Depardieu, who gets progressively more imposing on screen, is colorful as the exasperated government minister Beaufort, who becomes her latest protector.

The lovely, talented Virginie Ledoyen excels playing Camille, a courageous student who is trying to get an important professor out of France with his cargo of heavy water needed in the race for creating nuclear bombs. Her romantic feelings are stirred by Frédéric, who has been in love with Viviane, but is exploited by her and now is smitten by Camille. Grégori Derangère is a delight in the role, and has all the earmarks of a bright new leading man. The director uses him in the manner that Hitchcock used James Stewart, as an innocent caught up in a situation not of his making and rising to the occasion. Peter Coyote is cast as Winckler, a German agent masquerading as an American journalist. Yvan Attal has a colorful role as Raoul, an escaped prisoner who tries to help the professor elude the Nazis. There is a large supporting cast, very well chosen.