reidy-05321 This is one of the most chilling and emotionless depictions of the french resistance during World War 2 ever put to film.You expect to see ruthlessness from the Nazis shown in this two and a half hour raw representation of 1940s resistance underworld but it's the allied sympathisers whose true colours shine through. The monochromatic palate and the undeniable 1960s filming style reflect the lack of remorse the cold killers of the central "protagonists" posses.The whole film feels like a crisp morning with interspersed action emphasised by the random quick zooms that creates tangible tension. This reminds us of the overwhelming fascist presence and the immediacy for retaliation that this requires.I would highly recommend this film to those who enjoy international films or love period pieces that truly deliver in all aspects in which they require to create a film that keeps you on edge for it's entire duration.

nolar Story of how The Resistance survives under Nazi Regime in Vichy France through the lens of Philippe Gerbier (Resistance Leader), it is bleak, moody and taut.The Craftsmanship is top- notch. Cinematography and Sound Design create a desolate atmosphere, quiet and haunting. A lingering uncertainty envelops the story and ushers in the dreadful anticipation of the future of the Men/Women involved. The script is on another level. The flawlessly written scenes are prolonged to develop and sustain the tension that provides clarity as to what Extreme Measures the Resistance/Germans deem achievable. **spoiler** Gerbier's Escape(Twice), Paul Dounat(One Who betrays Gerbier)'s Execution,Jean-François delivery of transmitter to Mathilde, Lepercq capture and attempted Rescue, Mathilde's putting up a brave front in domineering German presence, the dialogue at the farmhouse after Mathilde's arrest and what follows keeps you at the edge of you seat.**spoiler** Motivations and Morality are brought to the fore and questioned. Even though the Consequences of Loyalties and Betrayals at the hands of either the Gestapo or the Resistance are brutal and detailed, the film remains grounded through a human lens which makes it all the more affecting.

skeptic skeptical I have now watched this film twice, though I repressed the first viewing and only realized that I had watched it before at a couple of points during the second viewing. The film is well made. The pace of the action and the cinematography are excellent. Why would I have repressed such a film from my consciousness? Probably because it's downright depressing. The plot revolves nearly entirely around a group of French resistance fighters who are depicted doing nothing beyond protecting themselves and their comrades. In the process, they all become killers, and yet none of them is saved in the end by their willingness to dirty their hands. In this way, the film offers a classic portrait of corruption. Men who would never have dreamed of strangling to death a young man, or shooting a woman who actually saved their lives, end up committing such brutal acts of homicide in the name of "the cause"--though often, again, it seems more like self-preservation and perhaps even revenge killing. This is a realistic and, I imagine, controversial depiction of the French resistance, as it suggests that their efforts were largely irrelevant to the defeat of the Nazis. The partisans seem more concerned in this portrayal with protecting themselves than with anything else.I suppose that one might retort that the fact that the action of the film focuses on the resistance fighters' self-preservation efforts does not preclude the possibility that they did lots of good and saved other people's lives at the same time. But it's all left in the shadows, and they do seem rather consumed by their primary focus. Did the defeat of Hitler have anything whatsoever to do with what any of these people did? Or did they become murderers and end up killed as a result for no good reason?Were these killers (all of whom appear to have died before the end of the war) not created in the image of the agents of evil which they claimed to be laboring to defeat?

R-P-McMurphy Based on Joseph Kessel's real life experiences as a member of the French Resistance, the head of the Resistance is imprisoned in a camp after being given away by a traitor. He manages to escape and kill the informant, but this leaves him without knowing who he can trust.Technically its a good movie, the cinematography was really good looking, the acting was subtle in a good way. It reminded me very much of Brian De Palma and Quentin Tarantino films, specially of the films "Blow Out", "Carlito's Way", "Reservoir Dogs", and of course "Inglourious Basterds". It was very alike to those films, for its themes and also for some technical aspects.I enjoyed the voice over narration, it really stood out and there was also a sense of realism as opposed to Hollywood action, like one specific scene when at the beginning when the protagonist escapes from the Nazis by killing one by stabbing him in the neck and instead of getting his machine gun and killing the rest and maybe even saving other prisoners (like what would happen in a Hollywood film) he just reacts like someone who just killed a man would, he runs away. While I have to admit there were parts that had me kind of bored, the film does end with a bang, which left me thinking a while.This is my first Melville film and I'm anxious to see the rest, but I couldn't see anything great or outstanding from this film. I have to mention the DVD quality was pretty bad so that might have something to with me not seeing it as anything special, I already ordered my out of print criterion blu-ray though, so I will be watching it again in better quality later on.I'd recommend it to anyone who liked "Au Revoir Les Enfants", "The Pianist", "Come and See", "The Deer Hunter", "Full Metal Jacket", and/or "Apocalypse Now".