film 1 of this incredible french documentary seen a week ago
thinking/raving about it since as it resonated so significantly
such a fitting commemoration of the war of 100 years ago
presented in 2 films containing 2 and 3 parts respectively
last week part 1 - fury and part 2 - fear left us wanting more
the use of colourisation and sound enhancement so engrossing
with that a clear and concise explanation of the slide into the war
the film closing off in 1915 with the stalemate of trench warfare
part 3 - hell - picks up there and wastes no time in laying it bare
harrowing scenes of exhausted soldiers in vermin-infested trenches
rows of dead rats hung by their tails shown with the captor troops
regular orders to go over-the-top to certain death for many of them
recycling of soldiers and removal of dead and injured part of it
within a few minutes i am feeling a sense of shock (not awe)
and a realisation the title of part 3 - hell - is so appropriate
but it gets worse - more insidious weapons are deployed
mustard and chlorine gas and the obscene cluster bombs
designed to explode mid air and loaded with ball-bearings
the most hideous of injuries and so the invention of helmets
tanks make their first appearance as do evil flame-throwers
and in the air - manned balloons drop bombs and observe
a decade after man's first flight and the military are at it
bi-planes in the air and slogging it out with machine-guns
including one hermann goering future leader of the luftwaffe
pilots proudly accumulating 'kills' - enemy aircraft taken out
manfred von richthofen - the red baron - the most respected
over 80 kills but proclaiming killing is murder even in war
odd - but earning respect from the allies even after shot down
despite being an enemy he was given a full military funeral
this detail typifying how the film overall continues to engross
part 4 - rage - the war in full flight all over europe and beyond
mind-boggling numbers rolled out - casualties and otherwise
in the battle of verdun a million german shells fired in 1 day
but the french held on - no military gain - another stalemate
in desperation to make some advances the u-boats strike
sinking merchant vessels - some american - they then act
marines on the ground in europe lead by colonel pershing
on the eastern front the germans need to dis-engage russia
an exiled lenin is given passage from switzerland to home
and as expected he unifies the peasant resistance to the war
the russian revolution kicks in and stops war with germany
mission accomplished - german troops then sent to the west
but the americans make the difference and the end is in sight
part 5 - deliverance - 4 long years have exhausted europe
the germans get to within 120km of paris and hit it's heart
big bertha - a huge cannon strikes a full church in paris
atrocities inflicted on civilians raise the ire of the allies
and with uncle sam now mobilised the push-back begins
leading to the eventual surrender of germany and austria
armistice day - 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month
the sense of relief and sheer joy palpable from the film
the league of nations formed to avoid future large wars
and a want by politicians to punish germany harshly
a gathering of allies do just that with an agreement
the treaty of versailles signed in the hall of mirrors
though not with full consensus from all the allies
some believing harsh reparations will fuel anger
a generation of bitter germans could be the result
prophetic words closing off this extraordinary film
the audience leaving the theatre in stunned silence
me - so thankful for the opportunity to learn more
technology used to provide ease of accessibility
and again - a film that every student should see
bravo the french producers - merci beaucoup...
