February 2, 2024

L’Armee Des Ombres, Army of Shadows (1969)

Army of Shadows, Jean—Pierre Melville’s story about the French Resistance was first made in 1969, but it’s been released on DVD around the United States. Famous among critics for its sense of fear and terror among the maquis, it is better known for its artistic success than its box office or historical accuracy. Still, it’s always interesting to see films about the war from countries that were engaged. The French resistance has been overly romanticized in France, the United Kingdom and the United States, so a film that portrays the terror of ordinary civilians doing extraordinary acts of courage and dealing with the fear of discovery and torture should be interesting.