Week-end à Zuydcoote

Weekend at Dunkirk somewhat deceives us. The presence of Jean-Paul Belmondo, but also, for example, Pierre Mondy, entices film fans with expectations of a lighthearted war romp like The Seventh Company or an adventurous film full of heroic acts, masculinity, and coolness. However, this film is tuned to a tragic tone because it depicts the bitterness of defeat after a lightning-fast German invasion of France. Allied units are cramped into a small enclave near Dunkirk, and not only every day but literally every hour, surrender and capture loom. Despite heavy losses during continuous bombing, soldiers desperately try to board British ships, and our hero is no exception. He fires only once during the 48 hours that our story takes place, and it is characteristic that his fellow soldiers fall victim. Belmondo, in contrast to his traditional roles, remains moderate in his acting and the overall atmosphere plays a leading role. The camera captures crowd scenes of men squeezed onto the beach and a huge amount of war machinery abandoned on access roads. At that time, it must have been a very expensive film, even though there were surely models involved, but today it would be almost unfinanceable. Overall impression: 80%. (27/11/2010)