Grand Illusion (1937)

     Renoir's Grand Illusion focuses on French prisoners of war as try to escape German camps during World War I. Despite the sound of the premise, the film's focus is not so much action as it is interpersonal relationships and a commentary on class. Viewing Grand Illusion with Renoir's words here in mind illuminate much of the dialogue within: “If a French farmer found himself dining with a French financier, those two Frenchman would have nothing to say to each other. But if a French farmer meets a Chinese farmer they will find any amount to talk about.” 

    The beginning of the film introduces this exact juxtaposition. Lieutenant Maréchal and Captain Boeldieu, after being shot down from their plane by German pilots, are invited to a meal with them. This meal is amicable even though both sides of the war are seated. There, Maréchal befriends a German mechanic who worked at the same factory that he did; while other scenes show lower class French prisoners mocking Boeldieu at times due to his aristocratic upbringing and attitude. Two mechanics across borders are faster friends than two countrymen across classes. Later, Maréchal comments to his friend, Rosenthal, "I like Boeldieu, but I never truly feel comfortable with him. We've got different backgrounds, so there's a wall between us."

    Captain Boeldieu has this same foil in his relationship with the German officer of the prison camp, Rauffenstein. Two different countries' people, though they get along from their identical careers and backgrounds. However, Boeldieu, through having spent so much time in the camp with the other prisoners, has begun to come around to the idea of these types of divisions. Rauffenstein explains he wanted to talk to Boeldieu since they are both career officers, and Boeldieu responds by pointing out that the others with him are also fine soldiers. When Rauffenstein imagines that the upper class' relevancy will suffer after the war, Boeldieu says, "Maybe we're no longer needed."  

    Boeldieu ends up devising a plan that will distract the German guards enough to give time for Maréchal and Rosenthal to escape, though it will knowingly come at the cost of his own life. Even when Maréchal is trying to express his gratitude to Boeldieu he does not treat his actions as something to be anything other than expected. The differences between them still impair their communication with each other, but Boeldieu expresses his change of heart through actions rather than words.

    The guards gather the prisoners to an assembly after they all played flutes and banged pots and pans together to purposefully have this assembly happen. Once they call out Boeldieu's name, he does not declare he is present in the crowd. Rather, a flute plays and the camera pans to Boeldieu atop the fortress' balcony. He has a whimsical way about him like Pan as he sits atop the ledge and later marches while playing his song. Rauffenstein himself confronts Boeldieu atop a small cliff just outside the gates, and ends up killing him with a shot to the stomach that he later tells Boeldieu was meant for his legs.

    Boeldieu leaves the world telling Rauffenstein, "I am not the one to be pitied. For me, it will all be over soon. But you'll have to carry on."