Deeply thematic

Rating: 10/10 (25 October 2007)

A brilliant piece on war and class distinctions and the struggle between them. Probably one of the first anti-war films, and possibly one of the very best. Incredibly sharp writing and naturalistic acting elevate this above a typical POW escape film, but it's the deeply thematic message that really pushes it over the top. All of the characters are three-dimensional, flawed human beings, and the real villain of the work is war. Each of the three main parts of the narrative builds on the previous one, adding to the themes and furthering the notions about class similarities across warring nations. Not the best French film ever made, but certainly right up there.