Commentaire par brogmiller

It is difficult to enthuse unreservedly about this film but at the same time it cannot be dismissed. As one would expect from director Andre Cayatte it is a story told in a matter-of-fact manner and in common with all of his films deals with 'moral responsibility'. During the years of Occupation in France people made choices or had choices forced upon them which were not without consequences, to put it mildly! The actions of Jean, played by Georges Riviere, have a devastating impact on lovely Helga, beautifully portrayed by Cordula Trantow whilst Jean's relationship with the fascinating Florence of Nicole Courcel is damaged irreparably when he learns that she is guilty of 'horizontal collaboration'. The pace of the film is slow but it is strangely absorbing and holds ones attention. The diminutive stature and soulful gaze of Charles Aznavour would always limit the roles he could play and here he exhibits his natural sensibility as a decent chap who survives in his own way. In an ideal world his character would settle down with Helga but Fate has decreed otherwise. On the other side of the coin we have Jean, well played by Riviere. Typically of Cayatte he has cast an attractive leading man type as a character whose moral compass is decidedly defective. It is however the performances of Courcel and Trantow that leave the deepest impression. Not very well received at the time and disparaged by the New Wavelet brigade this film still managed to win the Golden Lion at Venice.