Grand Illusion
© John Nesbit
". . . a story about human relationships. I am sure that such a question is so important today that if we don't solve it, we will just have to say 'goodbye' to our beautiful world." Jean RenoirSon of the famous impressionist painter, Jean Renoir was born in 1894 and arguably ranks as France's best film director. Although Grand Illusion (1937) invariably appears on best ever lists, many consider his 1939 film Rules of the Game even better. Renoir literally fought in World War I with a mission to make it the "war to end all wars" by returning to Paris and making films that have distinctly anti-war sentiments to them without being overly sentimental. Renoir's remarks on the Criterion DVD production demonstrate what a truly idealistic and peaceful man he was, characteristics that are confirmed by actor Eric von Stroheim's remarks:
"Jean Renoir could have been an excellent diplomat as well, for he has more finesse and ability in his little finger than any professional has in what he calls his brains."Since Renoir died in 1979, he never got to see the pristine negative of his film that has been used in a recent re-release and subsequent video and DVD editions. At one point the legendary director thought that the film was completely lost, but was able to re-construct it when a copy was discovered from a most ironic source. Indeed, the story of the film itself makes for high drama.
The Nazis declared Renoir's Grand Illusion "Cinematic Public Enemy Number 1," and seized all copies they could find when they first occupied France with propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels ordering all negatives to be destroyed. The French underground remained at work in the cinematic world with collector Henri Langlois contacting his Nazi friend and fellow film buff, Frank Hensel, who prevented a number of films from extinction through his office. Hensel actually had protected a great many films by having them stored in private throughout Berlin-this collection became the prized treasure of the Cinemathèque Française. In the 1960's a complete print of Grand Illusion emerged, much to Renoir's surprise. Had he lived longer, he would have seen an even more pristine copy find its way to the big screen.
For those used to seeing the trench warfare of WWI films, Renoir's Grand Illusion provides welcome relief. He focuses on the human relationships that evolve during this "gentlemanly" war and shows the universality of humankind, regardless of nationality, religion, or social class.
 |
