La Grande Illusion an excellent eyeopener

La Grande Illusion: Special Edition (Optimum, €24.99) is a digitally restored uncut version of Jean Renoir’s 1937 classic.

An aristocrat, Captain de Boeldieu (Pierre Fresnay), mechanic/officer (Jean Gabin) and Jewish banker (Marcel Dalio), are captured and find themselves stuck in a fortress run by Van Rauffenstein (Erich Von Stroheim).

But the latter’s easy relationship with de Boeldieu has tragic unforeseen consequences.

An excellent eyeopener on the dying European order, class and war itself. Includes introduction and two Renoir shorts.

Drama

Star rating: 3/5.