If you’ve never seen this important piece of French cinema, don’t miss it in theaters this Wednesday! Rated 4.5 by the press, Army of Shadows, the iconic film starring Lino Ventura, hits theaters this June 5th in a sublime 4K restoration orchestrated by Carlotta.
Jean-Pierre Melville’s film recently had the prestigious honor of being screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Classics section.
If by chance the film isn’t showing near you, this re-release is accompanied by a DVD/Blu-Ray reissue, still from Carlotta.
What is it about?
France 1942. Gerbier, a bridge and road engineer, is also one of the leaders of the resistance. Condemned and captured, he was put in prison. As he prepares to escape, the Gestapo picks up…
Why should you see it?
Army of Shadows is considered by many to be the best resistance film ever made. Although it is not a story directly adapted from real events, it combines many facts that make this story realistic and attractive. Director Jean-Pierre Melville references his own memories of the Resistance and the action of Lucie Aubrac (whose life would be the subject of Claude Berry’s film, Lucie Aubrac, 1997). Army of Shadows is an adaptation of Joseph Kessel’s 1943 novel.
“In this film, for the first time, I showed what I saw, what I experienced. However, my truth is of course subjective and certainly not the actual truth. From an uplifting story, a wonderful documentary about resistance, I had a retrospective feeling; A nostalgic pilgrimage to an era that had a profound impact on my generation(Learn more in our file on France during the war).
Iconic casting
Army of Shadows brings together the best actors and actresses of this generation: Lino Ventura, Simon Signore, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Paul Meuris… This movie is simply one of Lino Ventura’s best roles.
Army of Shadows stands out for its staging, which is both sober and masterful. This style has also inspired generations of cinematographers who magnify Melville’s work to the skies. “With Melville, we have the impression that if you love cinema, if you love it passionately, you can only make one good film, it’s fantastic.E”… said, for example, Quentin Tarantino, who considers certain directors among his favorite Jean-Pierre Melville !
Its extremely dense plot, rich in twists and turns, has also attracted famous film names such as Christopher Nolan. “To me, Shadow Army embodies the idea of ​​moral ambiguity in cinema“For Jacques Audiard it’s just”A must see film for anyone interested in our country’s history“.
This film, originally released in 1969, also deviates from the traditional image of heroic resistance supported by the majority of the French people.
1969 Movies by Audience
In 1969, the film had 1.4 million admissions (according to CBO Box Office). It has already been released twice in cinemas, in 2005 and 2015.
4.5 rated by the press
During its pre-release release, the film was praised by the press and received a rating of 4.5. For Les Inrockuptibles, the film features “Resistance at its most appalling banality. From the great Melville.“
For Zurban, “Far from a pontificating reconstruction, Melville adapts the testimony of Joseph Kessel, but also takes a page from his own past as a resistance fighter, with a deadly and dizzying melancholy, like the film’s music (…).“
Jean-Pierre Melville’s Army of Shadows is showing this Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
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.
