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AFFFF25: Army of Shadows (1969)

Synopsis

Retrospective

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.