
La Bandera
dir. Julien Duvivier · 1935
Feature
Moral Ambiguity
Mood
Melancholic / Tense
Look
stark realism with a muted color palette
Structure
linear progression with flashbacks to past events
Plot
Pierre Gilieth has committed a murder in Paris. He flees to Barcelona, where he runs out of money. So he joins the Spanish Foreign Legion. He meets there two fellow countrymen, Mulot and Lucas. He tries to forget his fault... but Lucas's friendship soon appears to be less unselfish...
Why watch
Pierre Gilieth, a man haunted by a murder he committed, flees to Barcelona and finds himself in the ranks of the Spanish Foreign Legion. As he grapples with his past, the bonds he forms with fellow soldiers become both a source of solace and tension. Watching this film is like navigating a labyrinth of emotional turmoil, where every choice weighs heavily on the soul, and the quest for redemption is fraught with uncertainty.
Talking points
- the nature of guilt and redemption
- the complexities of friendship in dire circumstances
- the portrayal of war and its psychological effects
- the immigrant experience in a foreign land
Cultural context
pre-Civil War Spainthe allure and disillusionment of military lifethe impact of personal guilt on identity