I am confused about the time frame for this film. I assumed it was World War I (as the intro here states), but there was a radio broadcast and a Billie Holiday record, for goodness' sake! And the Mazels' car looked too modern to me for the 'Teens. Can someone clarify?
shareI do think it's World War II, not World War I. See other reviews - but maybe you've done that by now :).
shareThe synopsis originally said WWII and I was the one who changed it to WWI. For me there was no doubt that the film took place in 1914 and not in 1940, but it seems I was wrong. I have been reading about the original film (which I have never seen) and there is no doubt that it is set in 1940, as it apparently ends with the characters listening to Pétain announcing France’s surrender.
What led me to think that it was WWI? Several things. First of all, that whole way of life seemed something much closer to the 19th century than to the 40s. Also, cars and airplanes seemed like novelty, which would be understandable in 1914 but seem strange for 1940. Finally, I think that the way the war was treated fits much better with the First World War than with the Second. When was it supposed to take place? During the “phoney war” period? There were no hostilities then, so how was the pilot supposed to have been killed? After the invasion? You would think that even in that remote corner of the country someone would have mentioned that the Germans just conquered Paris!
Life seemed to go on as normal (except for the soldiers leaving for the front), which would make sense in WWI but I wouldn't expect in WWII, when France suffered a heavy, humiliating defeat.
Don't give me songs
Give me something to sing about
Just went to a screening of the film. The press materials distributed by Kino Lorber start out, "On the cusp of the Second World War in France..."
I, also, thought the film took place at the beginning of WWI, until I saw the train, locomotive and wagons, taking the soldiers to war, which was definitely too modern to be pre-WWI. Also the soldiers' uniforms were all khaki color, whereas the WWI soldiers uniforms were "bleu horizon."
La Provence, in the South of France, belonged to the "non-occupied zone" until much later into the War. As such, life continued somewhat isolated from the realities of the North and of the rest of Europe. You would be surprised how isolated, backward (I mean rustic), and self-sufficient the French countryside was at the time, and long after the end of the war.
Hmm, it's rather strange that you would change the date based on not very much research at all. Look at the costumes the people are wearing - they are clearly in the 1930s and 1940s - there's no way women would have worn knee length dresses in 1914 or even 1917 or 1918. And cars and airplanes were still a novelty in the 1930s and 40s - not everyone could afford a car and most people had never been in a plane. And the planes they showed at the airshow were way too advance for the first world war when they often used old fashioned bi planes which look completely different to the ones in this film. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biplane). If you lived in a remote rural area it's not likely you would see a plane very often.
In the first world war there were far less pilates than there were in the second world war because there were far fewer planes in operation. I'm also confused about why you think that the fact that no one mentioned the Germans conquering Paris meant it was World War One - equally no one mentioned Ypres or any of the battles of the first world war. Provence is a long way from Paris and southern france was run by the collaborationist vichy government who worked with the Germans, it was not occupied by the Germans like the north was. And in World War One a lot more French soldiers died in the war than in World War Two and there was no fighting in the south so again your comments confuse me.
As for who he was fighting he was most likely in the vichy air force
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vichy_French_Air_Force
When Filipe was getting ready to go to war, I saw a Nazi swastika. That is pretty definite, no?
Not too sure but the story was written with WWI as a back drop.
Now, when the first movie came out, it was during the German occupation. It was started before and after the debacle of the French military, which came as a traumatizing and humbling event to the French.
People like to say the Germans are ashamed of WWII but the French are ashamed as well for the debacle (remember: the French military was seen as the mightiest in the world -yet it lacked combat experience, unlike the German military, and its equipment was very outdated).
It is not surprising that people see parallels between the storyline and that of WWII, because that is how the original movie (the one I recommend to watch, not this piece of crap) was presented.
The 1940 version of this movie takes place during World War 2. In the newer version, I would still guess World War 2. Some of the cars look too modern for World War 1. When Felipe comes home on leave, as he walks by the train you can see SNCF on the side of one of the passenger cars. The SNCF was started in 1938. When Jacques is suddenly called up to replace a pilot who broke his leg, Jacques is sent to Africa.
shareI'm pretty sure World War II, for reasons already mentioned, and also the father mentioned that France lost the war (MAYBE he was just being pessimistic, but I don't think so). Also, one soldier is only very slightly hurt, the other not hurt at all. Yet they did not return to the front and are not even discussing the possibility. Sounds like the war is over.
shareThe time period is definitely after WW1 and the beginning of WW2. The cars, motorcycles & airplanes make that clear.
shareIt is pre World War TWO. The French Air Force did not exist pre-WW1.
At some point in the movie, someone mentions that "France loses the war". So definitely not WW1.
Provence then was not at the vanguard of modern life (remember that France had still 50% of its population living in the country side until the 1930's) and that's why it kinda feel still pre-WW1.
But as others have mentioned, the uniforms, the cars, trains, and planes are clearly post-WW1.
Some of the women's clothes did not fit the World War I time period at all. Jacques's mother hairstyle and clothes did not even look the part. I was a bit perplexed myself trying to figure this out.
The Divine Genealogy Goddess
According to the film's official website, the movie is taking place during WW1.
Which is no surprise to me, as (imo) the film/story (as a whole) has much more a feel of a 1914 world, then a 1939 world.
Those who are finding minor things that point to WW2, might be paying more attention to historical accuracy than the filmmakers were. There is nothing unusual about filmmakers being less then spot-on accurate, when it comes to some minor details of their films.
The film's official website saids it is WW1, and we should probably take the filmmakers word as to what their intent was.
It's definitely WW1, though I agree some of the fashions and depicted technology don't appear to quite fit the period. Given the 12 - 15 months time-span of the movie, there is no reference to the Nazi occupation or the oversee of the Vichy puppet regime. Therefore it can't be WW2.🐭
shareNot at all. There is no official website for this film (at least in France), the best we can have is the distributor's description which begin with, I quote, "1939, in Provence".
For those who speak french, here's the link: http://www.pathefilms.com/dvd/lafilledupuisatier
So... It definitely begins Pre-World War II :)