Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville1969 War Drama
Not Rated
*****
Last year, Jean-Pierre Melville's 1969 masterpiece about the French Resistance during World War II, Army Of Shadows, was finally released in the United States. Melville has always been one of the more interesting French New Wave directors to me, mainly because he was so capable of making films that would appeal to both independent film purists and action lovers equally. Take an early scene, for example, when Gerbier (Lino Ventura), who has just escaped from the Nazis, is running down a dark street to escape his captors. Despite the lack of a soundtrack, Melville basically creates one with the sound of Gerbier's shoes hitting the pavement with every step. It is an incredibly tense moment, and just one example of what an innovator the director was. The rest of the film is equally as brilliant, though certainly dark...about as dark as a film can get. Don't expect to smile much through these 2 1/2 hours, as there isn't much to smile about. But find happiness in the fact that you are seeing one of the great films of all time.
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