Io accuso

Abel Gance, undoubtedly one of the greatest film-makers ever, made this extraordinary film as he saw Europe rushing toward World War 2. It is a remake of a film he made when he was in the trenches of World War 1. At its core is the magnificent performance of Victor Francen as the only survivor of a World War 1 patrol who is determined to prevent war ever happening again. With photography and amazing mis en scene, Gance evokes the waste of war and the terrible effect it has on its survivors. The climax involves Francen conjuring the dead of World War 1 to stop World War 2. This is stunningly shot and extremely powerful.

The only faults this film has is the over reliance on stock footage (I assume because of budgetary problems), and a romantic sub-plot that doesn't quite work. But this is a true work of art - highly political and visionary, and fascinating historically. What a shame humanity didn't listen in 1938!

Victor Francen (Jean) is the main character that we follow from fighting in the trenches in WW1 to the eve of WW2. We first come across him as a typical French lover who is sleeping with someone else's wife. In this case it is the wife of fellow soldier Marcel Delaître (François) and the lady in question is Line Noro (Edith), with whom Marcel also has a daughter. These 2 men confront each other on the battlefield and agree a friendship of sorts as they are forced together in battle. They then go on a doomed patrol from which no-one ever returns. Well, there is one survivor in this case. The film then follows Francen's determination to end all wars culminating in the rising of the dead soldiers to prevent a repeat of WW1.

History shows us that this isn't the way things went but it is a nice idea as we are suddenly thrust into a zombie movie at the end. Another notably French trait is exhibited when Francen calls out to the dead nationalities - American, German, Italian, etc - with one notable absence. Yes, you've guessed it. No mention of the British. The French really have a chip on their shoulder. Francen speaks in various foreign languages but calls out to the Americans not the British when he utters his English dialogue. Ha ha. Overall, the film is a bit depressing. Sacre Bleu! But the spooky bits are good.

J'Accuse surely ranks as one of the most stunningly effective anti-war films ever made. Its early scenes involve a group of French soldiers who are compelled to go out on a hopeless and utterly pointless patrol. The men are instantly slaughtered by the Germans. The next morning, an armistice is declared. The men on patrol were the last to die. Think of the great anti-war films you've seen--like "Paths of Glory" or "All Quiet on the Western Front." In my opinion, Abel Gance's "J'Accuse" ranks with these masterpieces and, in its final scenes, even surpasses them.

Jean Diaz is the sole survivor of the doomed patrol. Before the men leave the trenches, Diaz swore to his colleagues that their sacrifice would not be in vain--there would be no more wars. Diaz devotes his life to achieving this goal for which he sacrifices everything. Of course, he fails miserably, as the European powers prepare for a new and even more catastrophic war. In the final scenes, Diaz plays his last and best card in scenes that will not be soon forgotten by those who are fortunate enough to see this great film.

Not strictly a remake of Abel Gance's silent classic because that comprised only the first half of this version which is plainly the work of a sadder, wiser man and continues well past the Armistice to deal with the trauma of those who survived.

Gance shows a command of sound and dialogue well beyond his more celebrated silents, and if like all Gances it goes on too long, it makes up in visual punch what it lacks in brevity.

A plea from beyond the graves of 53,000.000 who died in WWI, this movie eloquently watches 12 men as they prepare for what they know will the last patrol of their life. 120 men have already gone to their deaths in their 3 years at Verdun, on the same patrol. As two men argue over their love for one's wife, the husband is suddenly bound to forgive the other and makes him pledge to mail letters to the other's wife should he die, at 2 week intervals to keep her thinking of him alive.

A few subplots involving a chanteuse who has all the men singing while the bombs explode around them in a town that is wiped out by the barrage. The scene in which the dead answer the call of the scientist who has worked for 20 years to bring back his friends and others has been often copied in far lesser films since.

The dialogue in this movie is of great impact, made more so by the fact that my son has just returned from the slaughter in Iraq. A eye for an eye makes everyone blind, and no movie makes the point as well as this one. The death scene may deliberately be set up to make you think of Jean D'Arc, but it just reminded me of how mindless the masses are, no matter of what nationality. The brainwashed American public is a case in point. Oh, for a decent educational system. Maybe we should give up and just show movies like this one, 'Paths of Glory', 'Attack' and 'Deerhunter' all day. Whoever puts up statues to military, writes military marches and glorifies marching off to war should have to tell all the widows their loved one has died for nothing, only repeats of death---be it through war or 9/11s.