The old gun: a masterpiece of French cinema
Published in 1975, The old gundirected by Robert Enrico, it is a fundamental film of French cinema that combines drama, revenge and a heavy historical context. Powered by powerful performances from Philippe Noiret and Romy Schneider, the film tells the story of Julien Dandieu, a pacifist doctor whose life is tragically turned upside down during the Second World War.
The plot takes place in 1944, while Julien Dandieu, played by Philippe Noiret, leads a quiet life in Montauban with his wife Clara (Romy Schneider) and daughter Florence. The tranquility of their existence is shattered when German soldiers attack their village. After witnessing the brutal murder of his family, Julien takes the plunge a quest for revenge. Armed with an old rifle that belonged to his father, he uses his knowledge of the area to track down those responsible for these atrocities.
The film does not shy away from showing the brutality of war and its devastating consequences, both emotionally and physically. The scenes of violence are depicted with touching realism.
The old gun it received numerous awards, including three Césars, and remains today a must of French cinema, led by an unforgettable performance by Romy Schneider.
A film inspired by the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre
The film is directly inspired by the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, which occurred on 10 June 1944. This tragedy was perpetrated by a detachment of the SS division “Das Reich”, which decimated the village in response to resistance activities. That day, 643 civilians, including 245 women and 207 children, were killed. The inhabitants, gathered in the village under the pretext of identity checks, were separated: the men were taken to the barns while the women and children were locked in the church. The German soldiers then opened fire on the men, then set fire to the buildings containing women and children with indescribable barbarism.
The Oradour-sur-Glane massacre is one of the largest war crimes committed in France and illustrates the violence and barbarity of the occupying forces. Survivors of the massacre were few and far between, with only a few people escaping the hell by pretending to die. This atrocity left an indelible mark on the French collective memory and marked the souls of the people.
Source: Cine Serie

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