Leading up to the start of wwii, france and germany were at war, in what was known as the phone war. The cinematography is outstanding and jean renoirs genius is in top form. The two unlikely companions meet fellow prisoners and. One of the very first prison escape movies, grand illusion is hailed as one of the greatest films ever made.
As the first great war was beginning, people preached that this war was going to end war forever as it involved countries from all. Jean renoirs great antiwar develops the fallacy of its title with tragic and ironic grandeur. As a result of the disruption, marechal is placed in solitary confinement, where he suffers badly from lack of human contact and hunger. During wwi, two french soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a german p. The narrative actually takes place in the hiatus between two orders. The dvd was sent to me promptly and in good condition. Chosen by the 1958 brussels film festival as one of the six best films of all time during the first world war, two french officers are captured. Even the details of the tunnel dig are the samethe way the prisoners hide the excavated dirt in. There are shots, then an order that guns be put down. Grand illusion 1937 synopsis a group of three french officers, working class lieutenant marechal jean gabin, nouveau riche jew rosenthal dalio, and aristocrat capt. Elegant, humane, and affecting, it has been recognized as a profound statement against war and is often ranked among the greatest films ever made. Jean renoirs masterful grand illusion is a beautifully told examination of what separates people from each other.
During world war i, a french plane piloted by two officersa. Apart from its other achievements, jean renoirs grand illusion influenced two famous later movie sequences. Grand illusion is a wonderful film about 2 french officers during wwi who are captured and sent to a prison camp. In part that was because it was a flop in 1939, and then it was banned. Reviewed in the united kingdom on january 18, 2019. A hit when it opened at the marivaux in paris in june 1937, it won a prize at the venice biennale and was voted the best foreign film in new york in 1938. Guide, download movies, tv shows, free videos, watch. Je kan wel raden wat mijn reactie was toen ik zag dat deze film op tv was. Think about how renoir uses each of these elements to put warm flesh on the political bones. Grand illusion is about the first world war, but it was filmed at the time of the spanish civil war, and that eras soaring leftist idealism suffuses its textures and storytelling. One of the few genuine masterpieces resulting from the great war, renoirs depiction of french prisoners ultimately escaping from the germans is a pacifist plea for common humanity that failed to prevent an even. Een sterke antioorlogsfilm opzich, maar zoals met wel meer films waren mijn verwachtingen te hoog. It details the exploits of those from different classes and nations in an effort to show the common humanity present across these divisions. The french are placed in a prisonerofwar camp where they meet and befriend their fellow countrymen.
Guide, download movies, tv shows, free videos, watch movies. Its themes of loyalties divided by class, racial and national identities and the conflict between patriotism and pacifism made it particularly compelling and controversial on its release in the last days of the french. May 11, 2012 grand illusion is about the first world war, but it was filmed at the time of the spanish civil war, and that eras soaring leftist idealism suffuses its textures and storytelling. Distributed in the united states and canada exclusively by palgrave macmillan 175 fifth avenue, new york ny 10010. During world war i, twofrench airmen are shot down while taking surveillance photographs in german territory. For many years it was assumed that jean renoirs masterpiece had been destroyed in an allied air raid in 1942, until a copy of the negative turned up in an archive in toulouse, where it had lain unrecognised for decades. To fully understand and appreciate this seminal work by the second son of that icon of french impressionist art, pierreauguste renoir, one needs more than a nodding familiarity. Grand illusion 1937 directed by jean renoir plot summary. The digging of the escape tunnel in the great escape and the singing of the marseilles to enrage the germans in casablanca can first be observed in renoirs 1937 masterpiece. The story concerns class relationships among a small group of french officers. Instead, the action, set mostly in world war i german prisonerofwar camps, concerns the escape efforts of several french officers confined in the camps.
During wwi, two french soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a. Several escape attempts follow until they are eventually sent to a seemingly inescapable fortress. The title of the film comes from the 1909 book the great illusion by british journalist norman. If you liked the great escape or stalog 17, i bet youll like this film too. Grand illusion, french war film, released in 1937, that was directed by jean renoir. The only innovation, he wrote, is on the style of the actors in pushing further a certain kind of semiimprovisation. Its themes of divided class, racial and national loyalties and the conflict between patriotism and pacifism made it a controversial film on its release on the eve of world war ii.