The cost of resistance

Review of Army of Shadows (1969) by oxfordcomma: 👍 4.5/5

To be honest, the subject matter was not something I was excited about as generally speaking films of this era dealing with Nazis are grim, but it was riveting. We follow a handful of characters who are in the French Resistance. Nobody looks particularly beautiful. They are all played by actors who look like they have \lived\ and for whom that experience was not particularly easy on them. We follow them as they execute traitors to the cause, attempt to liberate fellow resistance members, smuggle radios past Nazis, etc. And even when there is gunfire or explosions, it's a very quiet film and it's all the more powerful for that.

What I also love is that for most of the film, the activity is about the work of the Resistance. A Hollywood film would probably have attempted to make this seem glamorous and exciting. And here's it's more like these are people who have become professionals and this is just what they do.

At the same time, as we build to the conclusion, we see the moral toll all of this is taking on them.

Absolutely exquisite pacing.

The ending was perfection.