Revisiting the French Resistance in Cinema, Literature, Bande Dessinée, and Television (1942–2012)

Book excerpt: Revisiting the French Resistance in Cinema, Literature, Bande Dessinée, and Television (1942–2012) examines how fictional works have contributed to shaping the image of the French Resistance, and offers a key to understanding France’s national psyche. Christophe Corbin explores themes including the making of the myth of an honorable country united against a common enemy, comedies gently poking fun at it and fictional works debunking it straightforwardly, the invisibility and resurfacing of women in films and novels, as well as contemporary depictions of the Resistance on television. Case studies include sometimes forgotten or lesser-known works such as Aragon’s wartime poetry, early films such as Le Père tranquille or Casablanca-inspired Fortunat, iconic films and novels such as Le Silence de la mer or La Grande Vadrouille, but also contemporary fictional works such as Effroyables jardins and Un Héros très discret, or the popular TV series Un Village français. It will be of interest to scholars and students in cultural studies, film studies, French studies, history, and media studies.