Strange.

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2003)

I've been reading the comments on "la Grande illusion" and I'm puzzled. Many viewers only keep the political the historical, or the social aspect of the film while, in my opinion and in the opinion of my friends, the central message of the film is the christian "we are all brothers". Despite the religion, the social class, the nationality and the historical circumstances.
Renoir describe an event, the WWI (maybe the craziest butchery in the whole history - see The path of glory), from the backstage. Passive or active fraternisation, complicity and compassion is everywhere. He says to us, many years before Lennon "Give peace a chance".
I've seen it at least 50 times and still cry. If you believe in humanity, you'll cry too.