Amos Gita’s new film, “Pourquoi la guerre,” released directly on DVD, is a fervent plea for peace based on an original concept. Inspired by the correspondence between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, the film explores what could be done to end humanity’s propensity for violence. Freud’s response in his book “Malaise dans la civilisation” is not optimistic, as he observes the inherent pleasure in aggression and destruction, which eventually leads to civilization’s self-destruction.
Starring Micha Lescot as Einstein and Mathieu Amalric as Freud, the film also features performances by Jérémie Kircher and Irène Jacob, accompanied by choreographed moments and music. The narrative includes the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, as well as efforts to free hostages, the Gaza conflict, and the war in Ukraine. The poignant scenes of Irène Jacob watching news reports and the story of a young soldier who could have been a student evoke powerful emotions. The film raises profound questions without depicting scenes of conflict.
“Why War” is 1 hour and 27 minutes long and available on DVD.
