Recommended - La guerre est finie (1966) Discussion

[–] sr_wolfrider 17 years ago

Because it's a mediocre film, by any standards. Sorry but it is. I've just watched 9 outstanding Resnais films over the past week and this one, the tenth, did absolutely nothing for me. I think I have to watch My uncle from america again to take away the bad taste.

Last film seen: Robert Bresson's Pickpocket - Brilliant!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053168/

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[–] davidgoesboating 17 years ago

I'll have to finish watching it, but so far it's a quite interesting film... and, I am yet to see a bad Resnais film (Hiroshima Mon Amour, Last Year at Marienbad, Providence and Private Fears in Public Places were all exceptional.)

Mediocre seems harsh, but once again, I guess I can't judge til I've seen the whole thing.

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[–] NickNameNotAllowed-2 16 years ago

I have to agree, this isn't bad film, maybe by some opinions its the worst Resnais, but lots of those opinions are biased. They disagree politically and thats why the film is slammed. Personally, i think the film is worthy of the canon of films Resnais has. Definitely see it if you have no personal political biased. You may enjoy it.

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[–] timmy_501 16 years ago

Well, this was my fifth Resnais and I liked it much better than Muriel. It was at least on par with Providence as well.

Its also much better than Pickpocket.

Most Recently Viewed
The War is Over 9/10

This story is already over

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[–] Eumenides_0 15 years ago

I'm quite excited about watching this movie. Jorge Semprun wrote several great political movies, including Special Section and the celebrated Z. I'm more interested in the movie because of him than Alain Resnais.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

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[–] timmy_501 16 years ago

I thought there would be at least two or three threads...

Most Recently Viewed
The War is Over 9/10

This story is already over

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[–] Xcalat3 15 years ago

very recommended

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

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[–] Kurtz9791 14 years ago

Just got done watching this after watching Resnais' first five films, and I liked this one very much. Only 'Hiroshima' passes it, but it is still a great character study, political drama with elements of a thriller. Resnais' direction is superb, full of interesting cuts and transitions, as well as some great tracking shots that mimic the feel of these spies looming around in this shadowy underworld. There was also one particular extended sound bridge with a train intercut with Domingo arriving by taxi in Paris. In some ways, it's like a French New Wave version of "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold". Sort of.

This film is another reason why 1966 was the best year for film. Consider:

Andrei Rublev
Au hasard Balthazar
The Battle of Algiers
Blowup
Closely Watched Trains
Cul-de-sac
The Face of Another
Fahrenheit 451
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Hawks and the Sparrows
Made in U.S.A.
Masculine/Feminine
Persona
Tokyo Drifter
Wings

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[–] franzkabuki 13 years ago

Yes, recommended definitely - it´s mainly the unorthodox storytelling/editing techniques that make it stand out, but the story itself is also fairly compelling, mapping out & illustrating the mental landscape of a weary old revolutionary with considerable success. The beginning and end are particularly strong, but middle part seemed kind of problematic though - things kind of lag for half an hour; it´s more a meditation than a plot driven drama anyway, but the scenes where Montand is hanging around his apartment or attending underground meetings just aren´t quite as interesting cinematically... and they last pretty long. It´s not a great film like Marienbad or a truly outstanding one like Providence, but better than the overrated Hiroshima - not to mention the La Vie Est Un Roman thing which I found completely silly - but a strong one nevertheless. 7,5/10.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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[–] jayesbliss 12 years ago

Definitely recommended! It moves at a different pace than films do today. I just finished my first viewing in a few decades, but the images from my last few viewings had stayed with me fairly vividly.
Some of the scenes where Montand is waiting in his apartment or attending lengthy meetings may not be exciting cinematically, but I think they are portraits of what the bulk of 20th century radical/revolutionary political work really entailed - tedium, frustration, nerves.

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