The Silence of the Sea ( Le silence de la Mer ) ( El silencio del mar )

The Silence of the Sea (DVD) (*)

$42.99

Original Title: Le silence de la Mer
Alternate Title: El silencio del mar
Language Selections:
English ( Subtitles )
French ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
84 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White
Booklet
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1949 and produced in:
France ( France, Benelux )

Directed By:
Jean-Pierre Melville

Written By:
Vercors
Jean-Pierre Melville

Actors:
Howard Vernon ..... Werner von Ebrennac
Nicole Stéphane ..... The Niece (as Nicole Stephane)
Jean-Marie Robain ..... The Uncle
Ami Aaröe ..... Werner's fiancee (as Ami Aaroe)
Georges Patrix ..... L'ordonnance
Denis Sadier ..... L'ami
Rudelle ..... German
Max Fromm ..... German (as Fromm)
Claude Vernier ..... German (as Vernier)
Max Hermann ..... German
Fritz Schmiedel ..... German (as Schmiedel)

Synopsis:

Le Silence de la mer is an adaptation of the novella of the same title by celebrated French Resistance author Vercors (the pen name of Jean Bruller). Clandestinely written in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of France and furtively distributed, it captured the spirit of the moment, and quickly became a staple of the Resistance. Melville's cinematic adaptation partly shot in Vercors' own house tells the story of a German officer, Werner von Ebrennac (Howard Vernon), who is billeted to the house of an elderly man (Jean-Marie Robain) and his niece (Nicole Stephane) in occupied France. Resisting the intruder, the uncle and niece refuse to speak to the German officer, who warms himself by the fire each evening espousing idealistic views about the relationship between France and Germany. These propagandised illusions are shattered, however, when a trip to Paris reveals the truth of what is really going on. One of the most important French films to deal with World War II, and a landmark in Melville's distinguished oeuvre, Le Silence de la mer is a lyrical, timeless depiction of the experiences and struggles of occupation and resistance.

Le Silence de la Mer was based upon a popular wartime "underground" novel by Vercours. Most of the film is confined to the living room of a bourgeois French family. Howard Vernon plays Von Ebrennae, a cultured Nazi officer who is billeted in this household. As the residents stare at him in mute contempt, Von Ebrennae eloquently articulates his philosophy of life, which turns out to be pretty odious at times. Director Jean-Pierre Melville assembled La Silence de la Mer outside the established French film industry, using a non-union cast and crew and adapting the Vercours novel without securing the movie rights. Though it was much too verbose and cerebral for American viewers, the film proved most influential in shaping the future works of such directors as Robert Bresson and Alain Resnais.

In a small town in occupied France in 1941, the German officer, Werner Von Ebrennac is billeted in the house of the uncle and his niece. The uncle and niece refuse to speak to him, but each evening the officer warms himself by the fire and talks of his country, his music, and his idealistic views of the relationship between France and Germany. That is, until he visits Paris and discovers what is really going on ...

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 11 June, 2010.

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