‘Army of Shadows' was released in 1969 in its native country as ‘L'Armée des ombres'. Over the decades, the film has slowly gained recognition as a major artistic achievement. Written and directed by new wave filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville, ‘Army of Shadows' is based on the wartime novel by Joseph Kessel.
We follow Philippe Gerbier (played by the effortlessly brilliant, Gallic and lugubrious Lino Ventura). He is the head of a French Resistance cell operating in defiance of the Vichy regime in Nazi-occupied France. He is our anchor in a film that lacks a traditional narrative structure but rather shines a light on the often brutal and unsentimental activities of the French Resistance as they try to subvert the Nazi occupation.
Gerbier sees the inside of a prisoner of war internment camp where his hopes of escaping with a young Communist are crushed when his fellow inmate dies. We then see him escape against all odds from Nazi headquarters by killing a guard. Such a feat places a target on his back. Realising that he has been betrayed to the authorities and is now a wanted man, Gerbier hunts down and captures the traitor. It is revealed to be a scared young man (sensitively played by Alain Libolt). In one truly brutal scene, Gerbier and other members of his cell decide how to enact their punishment upon the informer. Once witnessed, never forgotten.
As the film progresses, we spend time with different members of Gerbier's cell, which allows several related sub-plots to develop. But the drama of ‘Army of Shadows' remains dark and gripping throughout, whoever is controlling the narrative. A standout moment is when Gerbier is faced with a Nazi firing squad that aims to execute him in an underground passageway. In another, Jean-François Jardie (played by the excellent Jean-Pierre Cassel, who was so memorable in ‘The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie‘) is captured and tortured by the Nazis. He then faces a difficult decision when he is imprisoned with his close friend Felix, who is in an even worse state.
Although mostly a male-dominated story, Simone Signoret (‘Room at the Top') gives a standout performance as Mathilde, the morality and beating heart of the Resistance movement. Her character reveals the cleverness of the film, and the uncomfortable moral ambiguity that saturates every scene. In war, there is no room for sentimentality. But without that, how can we hope to retain our humanity? Mathilde's fate is a microcosm of what was at stake during the 1940s.
Although long and never in a hurry to cut, ‘Army of Shadows' is utterly gripping. From the opening sequence in which Nazis chillingly parade past the Arc de Triomphe through to the dramatic finale in which Gerbier makes life and death decisions about those closest to him, the film retains a power to shock and enthral viewers in equal measure. The gloomy location filming stunningly evokes war-torn France, and the muted colours add to the sombre nature of the story. If you've never seen a film by Jean-Pierre Melville, then ‘Army of Shadows' is a great one to choose. Having been a member of the French Resistance himself, it's clear that the film is personal, and therein lies its power.
This release looks magnificent on 4K Blu-ray. The picture quality is sharp and the sound quality is similarly excellent. You can watch the movie in the original French language but there is the option of English subtitles. These are helpful for non-French speakers because many of the lines are muttered or whispered. A forty-minute extra feature delves into the life and career of Jean-Pierre Melville, focussing on ‘Army of Shadows'. It reveals how his Jewish identity and experiences during the war contributed to making him the great artist he later became. The tale that Melville sought to tell in ‘Army of Shadows' burns brightly over half a century after the film was made. Undoubtedly a classic, and perhaps Melville's masterpiece.
Cast: Lino Ventura, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse, Paul Crauchet Director: Jean-Pierre Melville Writer: Jean-Pierre Melville Released by: Studiocanal Certificate: 12 Duration: 145 mins Release date: 3rd June 2024 Buy ‘Army of Shadows'
