Resistance Movements Rise Amidst the Shadows

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MOVIE REVIEW
The Sorrow and the Pity (Le chagrin et la pitié)
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Genre: Documentary, History, War
Year Released: 1969, 2023 Kino Lorber Blu-ray
Runtime: 4h 11m
Director(s): Marcel Ophüls
Writer(s): André Harris, Marcel Ophüls
Cast: Alexis Grave, Louise Grave, Pierre Mendès-France, Sir Anthony Eden, Georges Bidault
Language: French with English subtitles
Where To Watch: available from www.kinolorber.com

RAVING REVIEW: Prepare for a genuine experience with Marcel Ophüls' historical voyage through the maze of tales from Nazi-occupied France, THE SORROW AND THE PITY. Making its debut three decades ago in the city of love and lights, Paris, this picture of the past has been lovingly restored for generations to come. The film plunges into the dicey ties between French society's crème de la crème and Nazi Germany during the tumultuous 1940-1944 period.

Two farmers, Louis and Alexis Grave, become unlikely protagonists, using their wine cellar as a base for operations. Particularly noteworthy is Louis, a survivor of the horror that was Buchenwald, who shines with a resilience that refuses to be broken.

THE SORROW AND THE PITY, using a mix of “new” interviews and newsreels from the past, stitches together a view of the occupation. It places Clermont-Ferrand, a small town that once bore the brunt of occupation, under the limelight. The film features a vast cast of characters, from everyday citizens, influential figures, and German officers, to members of the resistance and the collaborationist factions. The raw depiction of this collaboration was a bitter pill to swallow, stirring up a hornet's nest of controversy in France.

Stepping out of the shadows of its initial hushed premiere in Paris, THE SORROW AND THE PITY has etched a timeless and personal account of a France bound by German rule. Ophüls compiles a kaleidoscope of voices from Clermont-Ferrand's inhabitants – the creative minds, the cultivators, the veterans – painting a vivid picture of behaviors under pressure. Despite an icy reception from French TV networks initially, the film broke the ice and garnered worldwide applause, fracturing the image of an entirely defiant France during the Vichy era.

One statement from a working-class character rings loud and clear, "The bourgeoisie was scared. They had more to lose." This simple utterance unmasks the intricate dynamics of the occupation. The film's latter half turns the camera towards the heroes rising from the resistance movements in Clermont-Ferrand, their bravery burning bright against the backdrop meticulously crafted by Ophüls.

When Ophüls centered his narrative around this small town near Vichy, it didn’t go over well, even having some calling for its suppression. But the town's representation as a hotbed of resistance amidst German occupation offered a compelling study. Its inhabitants, a diverse group comprising collaborators, resistance members, everyday folks, politicians, German military personnel, and British spies, provide a lens to view that era.

THE SORROW AND THE PITY play out like a grand orchestra, questioning the commonly accepted narrative of a toughened France resisting tyranny. It intricately weaves narratives of courage, treachery, apathy, and loyalty, presenting a mesmerizing snapshot of humanity reacting to German occupation. The film dissects the period, effectively deflating the post-war myth of a nation brimming with resistance fighters.

While Ophüls brings together a collection of perspectives to give a multifaceted narrative of the period, he doesn't hold back from highlighting France's unique stance of collaborating with the Nazi invaders, even amidst general indifference and pragmatism. As a result, THE SORROW AND THE PITY leave a mark on the narrative of collective resistance against the invaders. The film skillfully traverses the complicated realities of Nazi-occupied France. These dialogues present a holistic, yet at times contradictory, chronicle of the era.

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[photo courtesy of KINO LORBER]