Verdun: Visions of History ( Verdun, visions d'histoire )

Verdun: Visions of History (DVD) (*)

~~$22.99~~ $19.98

Original Title: Verdun, visions d'histoire
Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Mono )
French ( Subtitles )
German ( Subtitles )
Japanese ( Subtitles )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
France ( PAL/NTSC/Region 0 )

Running Time:
151 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1928 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )

Directed By:
Léon Poirier

Written By:
Léon Poirier

Actors:
Albert Préjean ..... Le soldat français
Jeanne Marie-Laurent ..... La mère
Suzanne Bianchetti ..... L'épouse
Hans Brausewetter ..... Fritz - le soldat allemand
Thomy Bourdelle ..... L'officier allemand
Berthe Jalabert ..... Le maréchal d'empire
Maurice Schutz ..... Le fils
Pierre Nay ..... Le jeune homme
Jean Dehelly ..... Le mari
Daniel Mendaille ..... L'intellectuel
Antonin Artaud ..... L'aumônier
André Nox ..... Le paysan
Paul Amiot ..... François
José Davert
Henri Delannoy

Synopsis:

Verdun: Visions of History (Verdun, visions d'histoire) is markedly different from previous artistic endeavors made in France on the subject of WWI. For one thing, it doesn't attempt to apportion blame for what happened, nor does it demonize the German people. Instead, what it delivers is an authentic reconstruction of the battle of Verdun, showing the obscene folly of war without over-dramatizing it, to provide a stark plea to future generations never to go down the same path again. What is most striking about the film is its trenchant realism, which is achieved principally by use of exterior locations that were the sites where much of the fighting took place in 1916 - sites that still bore the heavy scars of conflict.

Verdun, visions d'histoire is markedly different from previous artistic endeavours made in France on the subject of WWI. For one thing, it doesn't attempt to apportion blame for what happened, nor does it demonise the German people. Instead, what it delivers is an authentic reconstruction of the battle of Verdun, showing the obscene folly of war without over-dramatising it, to provide a stark plea to future generations never to go down the same path again. What is most striking about the film is its trenchant realism, which is achieved principally by use of exterior locations that were the sites where much of the fighting took place in 1916 - sites that still bore the heavy scars of conflict. Most of the cast was made up of ex-service men who had served in WWI, including the actor Albert Préjean, who would have a huge career in France after the war. So convincing are the battle scenes that they are often inserted into other films and documentaries as if they were stock shots taken from the real battle. There is also a poetic dimension to this film, with the harsh realism periodically undercut by some surprising expressionistic touches that bring in elements of subjectivity. These are achieved through some effective use of superposition which illustrate what the protagonists are imagining and feeling as the world around them is transformed into an incomprehensible nightmare. The most memorable of these is the highly poignant scene where a wounded soldier on the battlefield imagines the spirits of his fallen comrades being taken to Heaven on a stretcher by the ghosts of their mothers. Then, later, we see the ghosts of the dead soldiers reclaiming a fort which they had earlier tried in vain to defend against a German onslaught. The film is divided into three parts, which are described somewhat prosaically as Visions. These are: (1) La Force, which shows the build up to the conflict, the evacuation of the civilian population, and the opening of hostilities with German cannon fire; (2) L'Enfer, which focuses on the German offensive, including the taking of the fort at Vaux, which allowed the German army to break through the French lines; and (3) Le Destin, dealing with the French counter-attack that succeeded thanks to the Franco-British campaign on the Somme which successfully divided the German forces. Not only is Verdun, visions d'histoire a stunningly realised war film with intellectual and emotional impact but it also has immense educational value, encouraging the spectator to learn more about the subject. Admittedly, its analysis of the origins of the conflict are a tad simplistic, but its recording of the various stages in the battle is meticulous and overall the film gives an illuminating insight into one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

Reconstruction of the battle of Verdun and its Pyrrhic victory in 1916.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 15 March, 2009.

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