Army of Shadows

The Army of Shadows film is highly informative regarding the history of World War II. Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and produced in 1969, the movie majorly focuses on French resistance during the Second World War. The film, which is based on Joseph Kessel’s novel, depicts the French maquis operating toward the attainment of a similar goal of freedom, which is driven by patriotism. The French warriors were trying to resist the Petain’s rule that worked closely with Nazi Germany. As depicted in the film, Melville’s Resistance is a direct pathway to death in the sense that most characters involved in the battle barely survives. Even though the movie was first produced in French language, it offers significant insights regarding World War II.

The film commences with the arrest of Philippe Gerbier, who is believed to head the Resistance movement. He later escapes from Gestapo headquarters where he was held and goes back to Marseille. While in Marseille, he keeps leading the Resistance network. Alongside his gang, Gerbier captures a traitor in their group and throttle him. Then, they embark on a mission to rescue a Resistance warrior at Lyons, where the leader is captured and his friend killed. Luckily, Gerbier again escapes moments before his execution time. He then realizes that a female fighter was arrested, and had informed the authorities about the Resistance network to save her daughter from working in a Nazi brothel (Melville). The female fighter is later released, but killed by another warrior for betrayal.

The director sets the tone of the movie ahead of the opening credits by depicting German soldiers through the Champs-Elysées. The collective and uniform marching of the soldiers illustrates the orderly of the German soldiers in facing the resisting warriors. Subsequent to the Second World War, the German uniform was not supposed to be worn on the Champs-Elysees. Dressing up of the actors in Nazi dress is a clear message that colonization is an element ended during the war. This further reminds the viewers that they are free from oppressive regimes. Consequently, the movie depicts soldiers stepping directly towards the screen as if they are going to march out of the screen indicates the seriousness and determination of either side to win the battle.

Notably, the resistance warriors offer a real representation of resistance in the French Resistance. The French Resistance had a few hundreds of members who were mainly average citizens. Most of these fighters died in the process of freeing their country. This never indicates that they feared death, but rather were determined to attain the common goal. Such events are clearly reflected in the film, which portrays death as a compensation for the efforts employed by the Resistance fighters. For instance, at a given point, Gerbier is advised to lie low, as the police were looking for him. However, he opposes the idea by saying that he needs to train new members. Such an incident shows how he invites his capture and eventual death.

Moreover, the movie reflects the unconscious pursuing of self-sacrifice in WWII, whereby violence subsisted with no success, but rather fatalism. In the movie most shocking scene, Gerbier, alongside two colleagues are expected to kill a traitor. Nonetheless, they have to do it while silent so as not the alert the neighbors. In this regard, they opt to strangle him using a towel (Melville). In this incident, the faces of Gerbier and his colleagues depict how they sacrifice their own, for the achievement of the common goal.

Overall, the movie Army of Shadows is highly informative regarding WWII, particularly the French Resistance. The movie shows the proceeding of the war and the contribution of various individuals. It examines the key tactics used by the two parties and the reward at the end of the war. Therefore, the movie is a great piece as far as the history of the Second World War is concerned.

Work Cited

Melville, Jean-Pierre. Army of Shadows. Les Films Corona & Fono Roma, 1969.

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