A powerful anti-militarist indictment, this film, broadcast this Monday, November 11, 2024 on Arte, is not to be missed. However, it was unpublished in France for a long time.
Cinema loves war. With many productions that have focused on one or the other conflict, the seventh art does not hesitate to show it in its greatest atrocity. In Hollywood, the Vietnam War obviously left its mark on people's consciences, and numerous films have evoked the sad fate of GIs sent to the front, such as Platoonbased on the personal memories of its director Oliver Stone. But quite logically it is the feature films planted in the world oppositions which provide the bulk of the peloton. With in mind the adventures during the battle of 39-45, such as We must save Private Ryanand its incredible dive into the heart of the Landings. The First World War is less illustrated, but examples still exist, with recently war horse by Steven Spielberg, the same director as Ryan. Released in theaters in 2012, the film followed a faithful steed into the heart of the trenches. Long before Spielberg, another renowned filmmaker had already focused on “Der des der”.
The Paths of Glory, antimilitarist masterpiece long unpublished in theaters
In 1957, Stanley Kubrick, since it is about him, therefore tackles the First World War in Paths of Glorybroadcast this Monday, November 11, 2024, date of the Armistice of 1918, at 8:55 p.m. on Arte. The British director, who will look at the genre again in 1987 with Full Metal Jacket and his incredible drill sergeant, brilliantly denounces the horrors of war in this powerful anti-militarist indictment, produced with virtuosity. If the film is today unanimously recognized as a masterpiece, it was otherwise for a long time. Paths of Glory was in fact invisible in cinema in France for 18 years, due to its storyline, which highlights the oppositions within the same army. In the midst of the Algerian war, its French distributor United Artist decided not to show Kubrick's work to the classification commission, an obligatory step before arriving in theaters. Especially since in Belgium, where Paths of Glory was released well, military personnel and veterans fiercely criticized the film. It will therefore be necessary to wait until 1975 for the fifth feature film by Stanley Kubrick to be visible in France. Another production by the filmmaker experienced the same kind of mishap, since the cult film A Clockwork Orange (1971) took 24 years before being shown for the first time on French television!
Kirk Douglas, a giant in the trenches
Paths of Glory follows French soldiers who trample in the trenches facing a German position in 1916. Any attack would be suicidal. However, in order to facilitate his next promotion, General Mireau orders Colonel Dax to attack. The latter is feverishly played by Kirk Douglas, Hollywood giant who died in February 2020, and father of Michael Douglas, with whom relations were not always simple. One hell of a family. And a classic to see or rewatch in these troubled times…
France
