{"id":1753,"date":"2025-11-16T12:28:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T11:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/volkanartz.w23.fr\/?p=1753"},"modified":"2025-11-16T18:15:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T17:15:42","slug":"11-novembre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/volkanartz.chauss.in\/en\/11-novembre\/","title":{"rendered":"Another 11th november"},"content":{"rendered":"

In France, and quite a few other countries as well, the 11th November is a special day, as it rings with the end of combats in World War I. But in practice, it\u2019s actually more like an opportunity for a public holiday.
And as a matter of fact, who actually go to commemoration and remembrance ceremonies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While I was working on the stage adaptation of \"\u00a0\u201call quiet on the Western front\u00a0<\/a>\u201d, by Erich Maria Remarque, in the perspective of the centenary of WWI, I noticed how tired of it were politicians and other attendants. And I somewhat understood it : who actually cares about it anymore?
Considering this, it is not so astonishing that the whole world seems to be preparing for the next great war to come. And I find it pretty horrifying, to be honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, during the latest 11th of November, my father asked us to remind our own kids about the horror of war.
My dear brother (who I love really much, even if we\u2019re not always on the same line, thank God !)), answered him that the horror might not be the only important thing to remind the kids about : remembrance, sacrifice, as well as a certain kind of \"flame\" to maintain alive\u2026 all in all our exchange got quite inflamed indeed !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spare you the ins and outs of this family debate (which actually was quite interesting and informing about the state of minds, in the current world), in order to stay on tracks with the objective of this very blog : the perspective offered by artistic works (in this case cinematography), to express the madness and vanity of the war phenomenon.

Looking at the stills and extracts of these movies, in preparation of this very post, I feel there is a lot to think... and cry about...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Die Br\u00fccke : the bridge<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In this German movie, the action happens in 1945, and there isn\u2019t many men left to defend the \"fatherland\"\u2026 and that\u2019s how teens are recruited to keep resisting against the allies' push.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Hopefully even among military men, they are still people with common sense, people who know that this sacrifice would be meaningless.
    I actually recall a dialogue between two mature soldiers, one of them having to take care of these young recruits :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    - Do you know what\u2019s the most important thing in war ?
    - Sure : not to get killed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    That is why these young soldiers (obviously without any training) are sent to protect a given bridge. This is actually a very silly objective as everyone knows that the enemy tanks wouldn\u2019t go this way. This permits to keep the teens safe.
    But in the confusion of the war, the recruits lose their officer. They stand there, by themselves, their heads full of propaganda, with war weapons in their hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Out of bad luck, the American tanks arrive precisely in front of this very bridge, and that\u2019s where the whole concept of bravery and sacrifice loses all its significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This is an excellent movie, very touching and even quite heartbreaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Das boot<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Voici un autre film allemand, portant sur la seconde guerre mondiale, en l\u2019occurrence avec la “kriegsmarine”, c\u2019est \u00e0 dire le front naval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    In the beginning, the submarine team is good looking, with brand-new uniforms and the most modern version of the German U-boot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    But as time goes on, initial success give place to setbacks, and the mood changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The tension rises together with the water pressure, as the bolts let go one after the other, up to unbearable levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Finally, the whole thing appears meaningless in plain sight : all of it for what ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    An exceptional movie, and quite awkwardly fitted for families !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. The young lions<\/span><\/strong> (1958)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is one of my favourite movies, thanks to the great acting by Montgomery Clift (in his best part), Marlon Brando in the role of an \u201caryan\u201d soldier, as well as the excellent Maximilian Schell (not his best part, but still quite fine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    We follow two separate lines, American on the first hand , versus German on the second. Those dramatics lines won\u2019t actually cross, or very little, but each one is full of expectations, encounters and disillusions.
    This film is rich with useful insights, thanks to these multiple perspectives, at human and personal scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I admit that it is a bit dated (50\u2019s), but if you can accept this, you should find it very good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Land of mine<\/strong><\/span> (2015)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This is a danish movie. The action takes place at the end of WW2, after the German capitulation.
    The danish military, quite revengeful, keep local prisoners of war and force them to clean the beaches of land mines. After all, isn\u2019t it fair ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But if the military system is responsible for it, are the poor guys directly guilty ?
    Furthermore, these are, once again, 16 or 17 years old boys, who probably didn\u2019t do much\u2026 (but who knows ?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    And there they are, deactivating land mines, which is to say that they work 20 cm away from death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The danish officer who deals with them is a tough one.
    But, within weeks, his attitude changes, and this situation begins to make him wonder about it all\u2026 How could he deal with a potential catastrophe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This movie is quite new (2015]. It is aimed at an adult audience only, considering the unbearable tension and the pervasiveness of the tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Please have a look at the trailer : <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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