The War Is Over (1966)
"La guerre est finie" (original title)

Diego is one of the chief of the spanish Communist Party. He is travelling back to Paris (where he lives) from a mission in Madrid. He is arrested at the border for an identity check but ... See full summary »

Director:

Alain Resnais

Writer:

Jorge Semprún

Stars:

Yves Montand, Ingrid Thulin, Geneviève Bujold

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yves Montand	...	Diego Mora
Ingrid Thulin	...	Marianne
Geneviève Bujold	...	Nadine Sallanches
Jean Dasté	...	Le chef du réseau clandestin / Chief
Dominique Rozan	...	Jude
Jean-François Rémi	...	Juan
Marie Mergey	...	Madame Lopez
Michel Piccoli	...	L'inspecteur des douanes / First Customs Inspector
Anouk Ferjac	...	Marie Jude
Roland Monod	...	Antoine
Pierre Decazes	...	L'employé SNCF / Station Employee
Paul Crauchet	...	Roberto
Claire Duhamel	...	La femme du wagon-restaurant / Traveller
Antoine Bourseiller	...	L'homme du wagon-restaurant / Traveller
Laurence Badie	...	Bernadette Pluvier

Storyline

Diego is one of the chief of the spanish Communist Party. He is travelling back to Paris (where he lives) from a mission in Madrid. He is arrested at the border for an identity check but manages to go free thanks to Nadine, the daughter of the man whose passport is used by him. When he arrives in Paris, he starts searching one of his comrades, Juan, to prevent him from going to Madrid where he could be arrested by Franco's police...

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Plot Keywords:

police | spanish | passport | communist | border | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

France Sweden

Language:

French Spanish

Release Date:

11 May 1966 (France)

Also Known As:

The War Is Over

Filming Locations:

Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6, Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Europa Film, Sofracima

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

User Reviews

Just awful

I am thrilled that a DVD version of this nightmare has been released. After 36 long years I am able to show my friends what I have so often argued is the most horrible example of film making in all human history. I recently viewed it for the second time, the first being in 1966. Perhaps I was too young then to appreciate the subtleties or nuances of the film, its textures and complexities. Gimme a break, this thing plays worse now than it did then.

The reason I firmly believe that this is the worst flick I've ever seen is that it actually takes itself seriously: It has a respected director (Resnais), stars the greatest French actor ever (Montand), and introduces the beautiful and talented Genevieve Bujold (oh those eyes). Throw in Ingrid Thulin (Bergman freaks know this talented woman) and the movie shouldn't miss. It does, it is just bad.

There's a story in there somewhere wrapped around a few steamy (for the times) sex scenes and a delightful bit of on-camera puking (always fun). Mostly the movie tries to insult your sensibilities while engaging in a pointless and confusing character study of a frustrated middle-aged anti-Franco Marxist. The problem is the guy is shallow, there is no character to study. The rest of the people are very '60s Euro-lefties, very chic, and very uninteresting to all but themselves (and Resnais) in 1966 - I can't begin to imagine how boring they must be to modern audiences. If you want to be entertained while battling against old right-wing Spanish dictators grab yourself some Hemingway. Now there's a guy who could study character.

When we left that theater in 1966 my date turned to me laughingly and said that if I lived a good life God would never make me see a movie that bad again. Apparently I've lived a good life.

Listen, I've sat through Ed Wood productions and Anne-Margaret's "Kitten With a Whip" but "La Guerre Est Finie" remains the worst flick I've ever seen.