ANALYSIS –
Right now, in theaters and at the Cannes Film Festival, which ended this weekend, several films are set during the Second World War, finally portrayed in a less black-and-white, more complex, nuanced, and realistic manner.
Great history is made by heroes and villains, but also by anti-heroes and anti-villains, and by heroes despite themselves and villains despite themselves. In short, by men. Especially when they are at war. This obvious fact was brilliantly demonstrated by filmmaker Xavier Giannoli in “Les Rayons et les Ombres”, which attracted nearly one million viewers. It has inspired others.
At the Cannes Film Festival, which ended this Saturday, no less than five presented films delved into the wounds and memories of the Second World War. Interestingly, the two feature films that could have been expected to glorify the war did not do so at all. On the contrary, almost. “Moulin,” by Hungarian László Nemes, follows the last days of the former prefect before his arrest, then his interrogations and detentions supervised by Klaus Barbie. With measured restraint, Gilles Lellouche perfectly embodies “Max.”
Context: Cannes Film Festival just ended. Several films focusing on the Second World War were showcased there, each offering a nuanced and complex portrayal of the historical event.
Fact Check: The mentioned film “Moulin” depicts the final days of a former prefect during the Second World War without glorifying the events, providing a realistic and restrained perspective on the historical context.
