Au Revoir Là-Haut is a French foreign language film following the story
of two soldiers who return to France after fighting in the trenches during the
First World War.
The film details a comedic narrative as the main characters attempt to strike it rich with their skills of ingenuity.
The film details a comedic narrative as the main characters attempt to strike it rich with their skills of ingenuity.
Au Revoir Là-Haut touches on themes relating to soldiers
returning from war and sheds light on how the French government dealt with the
large number of deaths across the French Empire.
Synopsis
Au Revoir Là-Haut is set in the year 1919. Allied forces receive a message detailing the end of the war, which should be good news right?
But this isn’t the case for one battalion in particular. Lieutenant Pradelle, the leading officer of a French troop, ignores the armistice message and orders his men to carry out an unneeded assault.
During said barrage, many men loose their lives on both sides. Édouard Péricourt and Albert Maillard (the film’s main characters) are brought together when Édouard saves Albert’s life on the battlefield in an attack that leaves Albert’s face extremely maimed.
The two soldiers from that point onwards share a close bond.
After returning from war, they come home to a different France.
Édouard, an ex-accountant struggles to find work and Albert, an artist has significant trouble coming to terms with his life after war.
The twosome come to understand that their old friend Lieutenant Pradelle is leading an effort to make a fortune off of dead soldiers. An effort that takes the form of burying the corpses of dead Senegalese soldiers in the place of soldiers of fallen French combatants.
Édouard, an ex-accountant struggles to find work and Albert, an artist has significant trouble coming to terms with his life after war.
The twosome come to understand that their old friend Lieutenant Pradelle is leading an effort to make a fortune off of dead soldiers. An effort that takes the form of burying the corpses of dead Senegalese soldiers in the place of soldiers of fallen French combatants.
After finding out what the Lieutenant is up to the two
friends come up with an idea of building a massive war memorial and making
money from donations.
The remainder of the film follows the twosome as they forge on with their scam in hopes of striking it rich. While they aim to get even with Lieutenant Pradelle for wronging them in the past.
The remainder of the film follows the twosome as they forge on with their scam in hopes of striking it rich. While they aim to get even with Lieutenant Pradelle for wronging them in the past.
Important Themes
Au Revoir Là-Haut is a film that tells a unique and comical story. Usually films set on the topic of war deal with intense emotion, loss and anguish.
However, Au Revoir Là-Haut follows a story of deceit paired with tons of Parisian satire. A mix that allows the film to flourish as a comedy just as much as a drama or crime film.
Despite being a comedy, the French foreign film still touches
on themes relating to the treatment of soldiers returning home from war and
initiatives undertaken to honour those who died in battle.
Most specifically the film touches on an important aspect of the significant amount of African fighters who died fighting for the French Empire.
According to historical estimates, 192,000 Senegalese men were recruited by the French and 30,000 Senegalese soldiers died in the war.
Most specifically the film touches on an important aspect of the significant amount of African fighters who died fighting for the French Empire.
According to historical estimates, 192,000 Senegalese men were recruited by the French and 30,000 Senegalese soldiers died in the war.
It is important to note that both the First and Second World
Wars were fought on many fronts. In World War One, fighting occurred across
Europe, Africa and Asia.
African men who perished in the war went unrecognized by Allied forces. They were largely ignored or were not deemed worthy enough of receiving honours by the French.
To this day only a select few soldiers have been recognized for their service.
African men who perished in the war went unrecognized by Allied forces. They were largely ignored or were not deemed worthy enough of receiving honours by the French.
To this day only a select few soldiers have been recognized for their service.
Men and women who fight wars in the name of their colonial
rulers continue to go underappreciated.
I believe it is an important narrative to highlight because there is a popular belief held, even today, that Europeans were the only people to suffer losses during the World Wars.
I believe it is an important narrative to highlight because there is a popular belief held, even today, that Europeans were the only people to suffer losses during the World Wars.
If you are interested in said narrative check out Un Homme Idéal. The film speaks to a similar narrative
of Algerian soldiers fighting for the French during the Second World War and
the French Algerian War in the 1950’s.
Conclusion
Altogether, Au Revoir Là-Haut is an entertaining film riddled with a healthy amount of Parisian satire.
The film is dramatic, funny and engaging. It tells a revealing story and touches on an aspect of the First World War that isn’t often talked about.
By all means add Au Revoir Là-Haut to your to watch
list. It is a film which is unique in its regard and keeps you interested the
whole way through.
