Der Gnadenstoss

This is the only movie made by Jean Cayrol ,who wrote screenplays of such classics as "Nuit Et Brouillard" and "Muriel Ou Le Temps D'Un Retour" both directed by Alain Resnais .

The subject is not new: the informer who gave resistant fighters away to the Gestapo was often broached in the numerous "resistance " movies made after WW2.On the other hand ,it was the first time it had been given the full "Nouvelle Vague " treatment , and those whose do not go much for this notorious school may take to their heels after eight minutes.

There are excellent actors ,Danielle Darrieux ,Michel Piccoli and Emmanuelle Riva ,but the icy directing does not help them show their talent ;the filming on location ,de rigueur in the N.W.,could have taken advantage of Bordeaux town urban landscapes ,particularly the harbor with a good finale perhaps inspired by Jacob's "La Marque Jaune";then the hero scrawling on the ground when a ship is sailing away may be a nod to the glorious old school,who knows?

Filming on location can give satisfying results ("Cleo De 5 A 7" ) ,but here it is just a pretext to film endless wanderings where the characters exchange would be "deep" "meaningful" "heartfelt " lines ,but which sound hollow ,at least to my ears.Add a jazzy score with snatches of Henry the Eight's "greensleeves " and you have the Nouvelle Vague in all its splendor...or all its horror,depending on whom you ask.

Like this? try these....

"Marie-Octobre " Julien Duvivier 1959

"En Haut Des Marches " Paul Vecchiali,1983

(both movies feature Danielle Darrieux)

"L'Heure De la Vérité " Henri Calef ,1965.