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An epic account of the occupation of small French industrial
city Clermont-Ferrand by the Germans in World War II, director
Marcel Ophus combines interviews and archive footage to explore
the reality of occupation. Speaking to Resistance fighters,
collaborators, spies, farmers, government officials, writers,
artists and veterans, it is perhaps the most gripping and
inspiring portrait of how ordinary people actually conducted
themselves under extraordinary circumstances...
The
Sorrow and the Pity (or Le Chagrin et la Pitie)
has been hailed as one of the most moving and influential
films of our time. This Oscar nominated classic by Marcel
Ophus has continued to garner international acclaim since
its release in 1969 and it's not difficult to see why.
From
the opening shot, at a (then) modern German wedding, to the
closing scene with Maurice Chevalier, the director offers
a fair and balanced account of the occupation of France from
the point of view of men, both ordinary and influential during
the war and from all three sides - France, Germany and England.
Sadly, there
was very little in the way of female representation and, in
the interest of balance, it would have been interesting to
have heard the views of a few of the woman - especially in
the Resistance - who were affected.
There
are a number of confusing scenes in this documentary - most
of which are to do with translation. The very first scene
has a German wedding, which is translated into France and
then English subtitles are then added. There are also numerous
occasions where English interviewees are dubbed over and then
English subtitles are added so that we can understand what
they are saying. But, possibly the most bizarre interview
is with Denis Rake, a British Secret Agent in occupied France.
The first half of his interview is conducted in French with
a French interviewer and the second half is conducted in English
with an English interviewer. However, there is no French dubbing.
There
were also parts of the war that are not so well remembered
in Britain, and for good reason, which are uncovered here.
I doubt many of us have heard of the slaughter at Mers-el-Kebir.
Here, 1600 French sailors were killed by the British Navy
as we attempted to commandeer the French Navy. The British
shelled French boats and, it's revealed, that the majority
of the French sailors through that they were casting off in
order to join the British boats. Not our finest hour!
There
are also a number of stand out bizarre moments, the most notable
being a public information film designed to encourage the
French to breed rabbits during the war - for meat and to turn
into rabbit fur garments.
Extras
include a retrospective NFT interview with Ophuls, notes on
the making of, and full interviews list and details.
Anyone
who is interested in hearing history from those who experienced
it first hand - from farmers to the originator of the French
Resistance - should get a hold of this ground breaking, historical
work.
Darren
Rea
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