Le chagrin et la pitié (1969)

Director:

Marcel Ophüls

Writers:

André Harris (writer)
Marcel Ophüls (writer)

Release Date:

25 March 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | History | War

Plot:

From 1940 to 1944, France's Vichy government collaborated with Nazi Germany. Marcel Ophüls mixes archival...

Plot Keywords:

Interview | France | Clermont Ferrand | Collaboration | 1940s

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Georges Bidault	...	Himself
Matthäus Bleibinger
Charles Braun
Maurice Buckmaster
Emile Coulaudon
Emmanuel d'Astier de la Vigerie
René de Chambrun		(as Comte René de Chambrun)
Christian de la Mazière
Jacques Duclos
R. Du Jonchay		(as Colonel R. du Jonchay)
Anthony Eden	...	(also archive footage) (as Lord Avon)
Sgt. Evans
Marcel Fouche-Degliame
Raphael Geminiani
Alexis Grave
Louis Grave
Marius Klein
Georges Lamirand
Pierre Le Calvez
Mr. Leiris
Claude Levy		(as Dr. Claude Levy)
Pierre Mendès-France	...	Himself
Cmdt. Menut
Elmar Michel
Mr. Mioche
Marcel Ophüls	...	Interviewer
Denis Rake
Henri Rochat	...	Himself
Paul Schmidt
Mme. Solange
Edward Spears	...	Himself
Helmut Tausend
Roger Tounze
Marcel Verdier
Walter Warlimont

Also Known As:

Das Haus nebenan - Chronik einer französischen Stadt im Kriege (West Germany)
Le chagrin et la pitié - Chronique d'une ville française sous l'occupation (France)
The Sorrow and the Pity (USA)
Zorn und Mitleid (West Germany)

Runtime:

251 min

Country:

France | Switzerland | West Germany

Language:

French | German | English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | France:U | UK:12A | USA:PG

Company:

Télévision Rencontre

Trivia:

Sky Hiatt in his book book Picture this! - a guide to over 300 environmentally, socially, and politically relevant films and videos states that this, Marcel Ophüls's film, "sorts out the roles of communism, Marxism, fascism, and German nationalism as they crossed paths in France" during the Second World War.

Quotes:

Georges Bidault: Some people are resistants by nature. In other words, some people are naturally headstrong. Others on the contrary, try to adapt to the circumstances, and get what they can out of it. If you are a resistant over everything and nothing, you're exaggerating. But if you accept everything, you're lying.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Ugly Betty: Zero Worship (#2.11)" (2008)

Powerful, spell-binding, four hour documentary about the resistance in occupied France in World War Two

Stunning, honest, in-depth look at the real people who formed the resistance movement against the Nazis in France during the second world war. We hear also from those who felt resistance unnecessary, and those who collaborated with Nazi Germany. Examines all the nuances that make up the very different viewpoints from those involved. The camera just looking at the wife of a former German officer as he recounts his version of events is incredibly telling, although she never says a word. The film is full of moments like this one that allow the viewer to see the truth. A must see if one wishes to understand history. Never boring, in spite of its length. A bit hard to read the white on white subtitles at times.