MovieChat Forums > Les femmes de l'ombre (2008) Discussion > Why not just kill the geologist? (Spoile...

Why not just kill the geologist? (Spoiler)

posted 14 years ago by marjoriem
5 replies | jump to latest

It seemed to me the premise was badly flawed from the very beginning. If it was so all-important to London to get that geologist out of there before the Germans figured out who he was and he spilled the beans about the landings, the obvious thing would have been to go in and simply kill HIM. Not send in a whole commando and put on that elaborate operation (nurses, ambulance, strippers, etc., etc.) and risk so many agents for just one guy who was badly injured already.
Sure, that would mean killing one of your own, but the whole theme of the film was that they didn't mind doing that if they had to.
Despite it all, I rather enjoyed the movie -- although I think it's basically an attempt to cash in on the success of Pierre Melville's similarly titled L'Armée de l'Ombre (which is excellent) -- but, honestly, it's NOT a very good movie -- despite the presence of a bunch of very appealing actresses.
I always especially enjoy any chance to see Sophie Marceau and Julie Depardieu.

[–] hharvey-2 14 years ago

They needed his information urgently - to get another geologist into France, have him do the necessary surveys and then get him out again would be too time consuming since the invasion was already scheduled to take place in the very near future and further delays in commencing the invasion would only increase the chances of the Germans discovering exactly what the invasion plans were and moving their Panther divisions, etc. to Normandy, thus meaning a far greater chance of the D-Day invasion failing.

[–] Concise_Statement 13 years ago

I can't think of many American war films where the audience is encouraged to say, "Oh if he's too important, just kill the bastard!" I mean, isn't that one of the common themes in this genre - the platoon that risks everything to leave no man behind?

"I've already let the right one in. Why would I let you in?"

[–] den09 10 years ago

Just watched his movie, really good adventure and all but on the premise that the captured geologist had to be brought back ... surely shining such attention upon him would have made the Germans even more suspicious, and as far as the Brits requiring his information ...it was suggested by the Brits at the outset that their minds were already set on Normandy. So the best course of action it would seem to me, arrange a fatal accident for the poor guy as he lay in the hospital bed, but it was only a story based on things that happened ...wasn't it?

[–] benman46 9 years ago

No it wasn't.

[–] Clemencedane 8 years ago

No, the geologist was a made up character.