Movies about the French Resistance, any suggestions?

[Vilna]

On the topic of the French resistance and the nazi-German occupation of France there are works of popular culture beside movies that deal with this period. I'm thinking of comics. First there is the epic in six parts, "Il était une fois en France" about the very complex character of Joseph Jovanovici, a Romanian born metal scrap merchant, trying to play both ends against the middle during the occupation. Jovanovici was a real life person who experienced both triumph and personal tragedy. This graphic novel brings out the very thorny choices many had to face during those dark years. This is a must read for those interested in this bleak chapter of French history. It also have a very cinematic quality.
Another graphic novel, that I must confess I haven't read yet, is "Malgré nous" about Frenchmen in Alsace and Lorraine during the nazi occupation. These were considered as Germans by the nazis, and therefore pressed in to the German army. I have flicked through it and it too seems interesting.
However, I'm not sure these two graphic novels have been translated in to English yet. Probably not. As someone who have struggled with French for more than thirty years I found reading "Il était une fois en France" a lot more easy going than reading "Asterix," which peppered with slang, double entendre, and word play. By contrast Il était une fois en France" is written in a clear and straight forward French.

 

[newsman]

Not sure about French, but there is an excellent movie about the German resistance, Die Weisse Rose or as we say on this side of the pond The White Rose. It only exists on VHS (how quaint) but there is a related DVD that I'd like to see, Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

http://www.amazon.com/Sophie-Scholl-Final-Julia-Jentsch/dp/B000H5V8H2/ref=pd_sbs_v_1

Another good German movie is Rosenstrasse

http://www.amazon.com/Rosenstrasse-Katja-Riemann/dp/B0006IIKRQ/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_T2_7_dp

Howdy. I'm a day late and a dollar short in responding to this thread.

But I'm going to second The White Rose. In my entire life I've never been described as overly sensitive about some things. But the story of Sophie Scholl and her brother is very hard to watch and well worth it. Just be prepared to be touched by the bravery of them both. In particular Sophie.

I have know men of honor, bravery. People have have lived the edge of life.

Sophie leaves me in awe.

I wept for her after reading and hearing about her loss. God holds this girl close.

 

[newsman]

Last time I checked Scotland was part of Britain so a slightly strange turn of phrase above.

As to movies you could try: 'The sorrow and the pity' a 1969 documentry about all aspects of the German occupation of one particular town in France from all sides.

This film is truly worth watching. It shows the complexity of what happened in France's history.

Both my grand parents were in the resistance. I am deeply proud of them both. My mother remembers the night the neighbors hid in her bedroom closet from the Germans.

I'd like to thank you all for posting your answers to this question.

 

[Chas]

If it hasn't been mentioned before, the miniseries "Wish Me Luck" isn't bad.