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Army of Shadows

L'armée des ombres

Poster

DIRECTED BY:
Jean-Pierre Melville

STARRING:
LINO VENTURA
SIMONE SIGNORET
PAUL MEURISSE
JEAN-PIERRE CASSEL
CLAUDE MANN

HISTORICAL DRAMA / FRANCE, ITALY / 1969 / 143 MINS / M

FRENCH, GERMAN, ENGLISH

Rarely has a film shown so truly that place in the heart where hope lives with fatalism.

- ROGER EBERT

Restored in 4k and presented at Cannes Classics in 2024, see acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Melville's unglamorous and nuanced study of the French Resistance, eating itself from the inside.

Betrayed by a comrade, Philippe Gerbier (Lino Ventura), the head of a Resistance cell, is captured and sent to a Nazi torture camp. In Vichy-run Marseille, the young betraying agent, Paul Dounat (Alain Libolt) is ambushed by Gerbier’s comrades and sentenced to execution. Following the story of a small group of Resistance fighters, ARMY OF SHADOWS goes beyond a binary tale of good versus evil, offering a raw, poignant portrayal of the brave men and women who fought against fascism and the sacrifices they made along the way.

Based on Melville’s experience in the French Resistance and Joseph Kessel's novel, the film is deeply personal, combining his intense study of the human condition with the signature chiaroscuro and realism that established him as a celebrated auteur of French crime cinema. Controversial upon its 1969 French release and only premiering in the US in 2006, ARMY OF SHADOWS remains a masterpiece of atmospheric tension, ideal for cinéphiles. Don’t miss this exclusive screening of one of history’s greatest war films.

CinéWine - Classic Movie - Sunday 30 March

3:30 PM
Sun 30 Mar
Hayden Orpheum Cremorne
4:00 PM
Sun 30 Mar
Palace Moore Park
4:15 PM
Sun 30 Mar
Palace Moore Park

Restored in 4k, Alliance Française French Film Festival presents an exclusive screening of this thrilling masterpiece of French cinema. Based on director Jean-Pierre Melville's own experiences, ARMY OF SHADOWS is an intense portrayal of the French Resistance and the price of loyalty. Set in Nazi-occupied France, the film follows a group of Resistance fighters trying to evade capture. The result is a fatalistic exploration of fraternity, betrayal, and personal integrity. Banned on its 1969 French release, Army of Shadows remains one of the greatest war films ever made. A must-see for cinephiles.

Hayden Orpheum Cremorne:

3:00pm: Reception including one glass of wine on arrival and delicious French Cheese by Fromager d’Affinois
3:30pm: Army of Shadows

Sponsors:

Succulent French cheese - Fromager d’Affinois (Hayden Orpheum Cremorne)

Palace Moore Park:

3:30pm: Reception including one glass of wine on arrival
4:00pm: Army of Shadows

Tickets:
Alliance Française & Palace members: $27
Non-members: $32



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