During the First World War, two French soldiers are captured and imprisoned in a German POW camp. Several escape attempts follow until they are sent to a seemingly impenetrable fortress which seems impossible to escape from.
Beautifully acted (by the likes of Jean Gabin and Erich von Stroheim), photographed and designed, it ranks proudly alongside The Rules Of The Game as Renoir at his stunning best.
A moving and inspiring story of soldiers stuck in a POW camp, with stunning direction from Renoir, getting performances from Fresnay and von Stonheim in particular that were well overlooked come Oscar time.
A vividly humanist, anti-war classic.
Not only hugely important in film history — it was the first foreign-language movie ever to be Oscar-nominated for Best Picture — but a sorrowful, acutely thoughtful, and wholly imperishable masterpiece.
Tragic. Moving. Funny. A pure joy.
Renoir's 1937 anti-war masterpiece.
Revisiting: La Grande Illusion
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday April 6, 2012, until Thursday April 12, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday April 13, 2012, until Sunday April 15, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
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