Director: Jean Renoir
Country of origin: France
Year of release: 1937
Run time: 114 minutes
Of the many great directors who have worked in film, only a handful can be truly counted among the masters of cinema. France's Jean Renoir is one such filmmaker, and Grand Illusion is one of his greatest cinematic achievements.
Grand Illusion is the story of three Frenchmen detained in a German prisoner of war camp during WWI. The film shows us how they manage to deal with their confinement, and allows us to watch their disappointments and their attempts to escape. The other main character is a German commander with whom the prisoners become friendly, raising complicated questions of loyalty and duty.
An anti-war film that escapes many of the conventions of the genre, Grand Illusion is as much about themes of class, nationality and religion, about humanity, relationships and identities, as it is about the horrors of war. (So potent was the film’s message when it was first released that it was banned in Nazi Germany, and by Mussolini in Italy.) Apart from the film’s timeless themes, however, it continues to stand up today as an example of great filmmaking because of its fine acting, deft pacing and fluid camera work.
(Some info from imdb.com)
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