After The Silence of the Sea (1949) and Léon Morin, The Pratre (1961), Jean-Pierre Melville dedicates a new film to the lives of the French under occupation with L’Armée des Ombres, about which he says: “I spent exactly twenty-five years and fourteen months in it. (…) It is part of my memory, of my flesh.”
Adapted very faithfully from Joseph Kessel’s novel of the same name written in 1943, the feature film is really about his own memories of the resistance, the action of Lucie Obrak or even the real networks of the resistance, the fate of Philippe Gerbier, an engineer. Ponts et Chaussées and resistance leader in October 1942.
An essential monument of the 7th art, the film is loaded with a magnificent staging of stunning chiaroscuro, music by Eric Demarsand, as well as masterful compositions by Lino Ventura, Simon Signore, Paul Meurice, Jean-Pierre Cassel. Also Paul Crouchette and Christian Barbier.
Without any romantic imagery, The Army of Shadows offers a stark, cold and terrifyingly realistic view of this dark episode in our history. In particular, the director goes so far as to circumvent a ban on filming actors wearing German uniforms in the Place de l’Étoile for its opening scene.
Since its 1969 release to 1.4 million French people, it is now AlloCiné Internet users’ top-rated feature film among Jean-Pierre Melville’s filmography, with an average audience of 4.3 out of 5.
Jean-Pierre Melville’s Army of Shadows with Lino Ventura, Simone Signore, Paul Crouches…
Tonight on Arte at 20:50.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
