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There were plenty of anti-war films before Gance released J’ACCUSE in 1919. Numerous short films were made circa 1911-1915 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the American Civil War (DRUMMER OF THE 8th from the CIVIL WAR FILMS OF THE Quiet ERA is a prime example) culminating in D.W. Griffith’s continually controversial THE BIRTH OF A NATION. There is also a unbelievable Thomas Ince produced feature from 1916 called CIVILIZATION but it has yet to produce it to DVD. Being a master of the film medium, I’m definite that Gance must have been familiar with these movies especially BIRTH for technique and CIVILIZATION for train. He took what came before him and made the first expansive anti-war fable that detached resonates today.
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J’ACCUSE was conceived on a broad scale but like most astronomical anti-war movies, the film is primarily intimate as it deals with the personal relationships of a handful of characters that forge a articulate bond with the audience. It is this that gives J’ACCUSE its impact and preserve it unprejudiced as relevant to the audiences of today as it was benefit then. The performances of Roumalde Joube, Marise Dauvray and especially Severin-Mars (the drawl engineer of LA ROUE) linger long after the film is over. The film is far from perfect and definitely not for everyone. It’s too long and the storytelling becomes too episodic at times but the overall message enhanced by Gance’s inimitable restful film style fabricate it hard to forget. As usual the restoration and presentation by Flicker Alley rates 5 stars. Tremendous music from Robert Israel as well.
J’Accuse was the only “peace film” to be made in Europe during World War I. Gance, who had served briefly in that conflict, returned to active service in 1918 to film battle scenes of soldiers actually under fire. Parts of the film were shot during the battle of St. Mihiel, one of the most vital of the war. Also, for the illustrious “March of the Lifeless” sequence at film’s raze, Gance broken-down sincere soldiers home on leave from the front - most of whom were killed within the following weeks. Some titles are taken from genuine letters written by soldiers to their families. These scenes are surely the best and most spectacular of the whole movie.
The film stars Maryse Dauvray as Edith, a young Frenchwoman who is in savor with a poet (Romuald Joubé) but is forced by her father (Maxime Desjardins) into a marriage with a great older man (Séverin-Mars) . Edith is captured by the Germans and endures multiple rapes that result in her becoming pregnant. Edith’s husband initially thinks that the poet is the father of her child, and the account ends in tragedy with both men seeing action in the trenches.
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J’Accuse introduced techniques developed by Gance including rapid-cut editing and expressionistic camerawork and lighting. The film is a must-see for all quiet movie fans. Overall, a spectacular and seminal work, although with nearly 3 hours it is very long for new standards and for the time. It contains some unnecessary reiterations, especially with its title J’accuse”, where the meaning is not always sure. But, it is distinguished better and more watchable than most films coming out in Europe and America of the time.