-Contains some spoilers-
This is the only movie the great French actor Charles Vanel ('The wages of Fear' by H. G. Clouzot) wrote and directed (he also directed a short film 'Affaire classee' in 1931) during his long career (the longest career of any film actor from 1908 to 1988).
A man (played by Vanel) who is working in a mine has recently married a beautiful young woman (Sandra Milovanoff, an actress who have worked with Sacha Guitry and Rene Clair among others). They strongly love each other but everyday they have to live separated because he has to go to work. One day, three children decide to make some tricks nearby the mine. Their 'games' have a very dramatic ending because part of the mine collapse and the man is injured and trapped under the rocks. After the rescue, the man survives but he is completely disfigured to the point that he has to wear a mask when he is in public and even in front of his wife. The happiness he and his wife were living in their everyday life starts to fade.
I've seen this movie only once, more than 10 years ago but I won't forget this powerful and dramatic story. It is probably because the man and his wife are so happy together at the beginning of the movie that their fate appears so unfair. The narration constantly focuses on the human relationship between the man and his wife, their happiness and their sadness, a point of view that make the viewer feel very close to the characters. Based on this review, one can think that it is the most dramatic story ever. Those who have seen the end (that I won't reveal) know that it is a little bit more cheerful and light. Charles Vanel - the director - is definitively an optimist.
Everybody would regret that Charles Vanel didn't direct more movies. With the simple drama 'Dans la nuit', he directed one of the most powerful (and almost forgotten) movie of the silent period. Thank you, Mr. Vanel, for this excellent piece of work. No more words. 10/10.
This is the only movie the great French actor Charles Vanel ('The wages of Fear' by H. G. Clouzot) wrote and directed (he also directed a short film 'Affaire classee' in 1931) during his long career (the longest career of any film actor from 1908 to 1988).
A man (played by Vanel) who is working in a mine has recently married a beautiful young woman (Sandra Milovanoff, an actress who have worked with Sacha Guitry and Rene Clair among others). They strongly love each other but everyday they have to live separated because he has to go to work. One day, three children decide to make some tricks nearby the mine. Their 'games' have a very dramatic ending because part of the mine collapse and the man is injured and trapped under the rocks. After the rescue, the man survives but he is completely disfigured to the point that he has to wear a mask when he is in public and even in front of his wife. The happiness he and his wife were living in their everyday life starts to fade.
I've seen this movie only once, more than 10 years ago but I won't forget this powerful and dramatic story. It is probably because the man and his wife are so happy together at the beginning of the movie that their fate appears so unfair. The narration constantly focuses on the human relationship between the man and his wife, their happiness and their sadness, a point of view that make the viewer feel very close to the characters. Based on this review, one can think that it is the most dramatic story ever. Those who have seen the end (that I won't reveal) know that it is a little bit more cheerful and light. Charles Vanel - the director - is definitively an optimist.
Everybody would regret that Charles Vanel didn't direct more movies. With the simple drama 'Dans la nuit', he directed one of the most powerful (and almost forgotten) movie of the silent period. Thank you, Mr. Vanel, for this excellent piece of work. No more words. 10/10.