The Film
Jean-Pierre Melville's masterpiece about the French Resistance was not released in the United States until 2006; some thirty-seven years after its debut in France in 1969. Melville kept the action to a minimum in this World War Two drama, and while the film is wonderfully shot and the acting is first rate, its pacing is a major drawback. The film centers around a core group within the resistance and how they seek to avoid capture by both the traitorous Vichy and the Nazis. The four main characters also struggle to deal with the honor of their actions during wartime and how it impacts their humanity. If there was ever an anti-Hollywood style war film with blood-soaked battle sequences, this is certainly it. Army of Shadows is a cerebral journey; not a visceral one that will raise your blood level as man butchers his fellow man.
As someone whose family was deported from France (and Poland) during WW2 and sent to the concentration camps, I was slightly put off by Melville's soft treatment of the Nazis. They are portrayed not as monsters, but as abrupt, cold, and just doing their bit of business. Melville, who was Jewish, avoids the "Jewish" issue altogether. The Vichy are treated with more disdain by Melville and while one can certainly sympathize with his anti-Petain sentiment, it may leave the viewer feeling quite unsatisfied. Melville was a member of the Resistance and the film certainly garners a level of authenticity as a result; especially when he focuses on the issue of capture/escape. If you don't mind the slow-moving plot, it certainly offers a different and decidedly French perspective on the occupation of France during the war.
One area where the film doesn't fall flat is the acting. Melville assembled a first-rate cast for his third film about the occupation (the only one that focuses on the French Resistance); led by the stoic Simone Signoret. The French mega-star (who was born in Germany and whose father was Jewish and ultimately forced to flee France following the Nazi takeover) is the soul of this picture and who really keeps it interesting as the men squabble over their internal problems with killing. It is Ms. Signoret who leads the group's most hardened killers into a Gestapo-controlled prison to rescue their comrades. She takes it on the chin, while the others crumble like a piece of Camembert. Lino Ventura also pushes the group along with his quiet, but intense demeanor. Gerbier (Ventura) dislikes killing, but ultimately realizes that it is necessary.
The Picture
Criterion has preserved the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio and overall, the Blu-ray transfer looks quite good. There is a noticeable absence of grit or noise, and the detail in the city sequences is excellent. The black levels are good, but not great as it is difficult to make out detail in the darker segments. The German uniforms certainly look authentic. The HD transfer of the film's 2004 restoration is another feather in Criterion's cap.
The Sound
Criterion has taken the original monaural audio track and cleaned it up, making the dialog far more intelligible (which works with this film as everyone speaks in a monotone). The kicker with this remaster is that they have added a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack which sounds fuller than the original monaural recording. Not only is the dialog punchier, but the somber, melancholic music is far more engaging and integral to the overall story. It's hard to get overly excited when it comes to Criterion's treatment of audio tracks, but at least they don't add channels that didn't exist to begin with. Purists to the end.
The Extras
Criterion has packed a lot of additional material on this Blu-ray edition and almost all of it is worth watching or listening to. The audio commentary featuring film historian Ginette Vincendeau cleared up a lot of my issues with some of the film's content (too bad, it couldn't pick up the pacing) and Melville's perspective. The interview with the film's director of cinematography Pierre Lhomme and chief editor Francoise Bonnot was quite fascinating because it explains the decision-making behind the construction of the film and its lighting.
There is also additional on-set footage and some excerpts from archival interviews with director Jean-Pierre Melville, various cast members, writer Joseph Kessel, and various real-life members of the Resistance. There are also two short documentary films about Melville, and the last days of the German occupation of France.
Criterion also deserves some recognition for its stellar booklet that accompanies the Blu-ray transfer. The quality of the writing is first-rate and extremely educational. I wish that more classic films from other studios came with such supplemental materials.
Final Thoughts
As good as Army of Shadows is, it's very difficult to figure out where it stands in comparison to other films about resistance during WW2. It is certainly without peer when it comes to its cinematography, but the quality story and wonderful acting get knocked down a few pegs by the horrible pacing. Melville makes his point quite convincingly in the end, but it would have been more satisfying to see the Resistance actually kill more than one Nazi. Read the book by Kessel first to better understand the film, which is undeniably very good.
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