Christian-Jaque ,all along his career ,was a man of peace .Many of his works show his idealism,his pacifism and his trust in Man."Si Tous les Gars du Monde","les Disparus de Saint-Agil " were generous works.Even his "Fanfan la Tulipe" displayed his anti-militarism ,thanks to Henri Jeanson's lines.
D'Homme à Hommes (From man to men)is completely forgotten today and however it deserves to be seen ,cause Christian-Jaque succeeded in what might be one of the hardest tasks in directing: a biography .He tells Henri Dunant's story:this man was responsible for the founding of the Red Cross.
Jean-Louis Barrault ("Children of the paradise" ) gave a memorable performance and we feel how he loved his character !He was given good support by Bernard Blier and Hélène Perdrière.
Dunant was altruistic in a century which ,likes ours and the one before ,was not.
"-They all rush towards the concert and meanwhile ,men are suffering and dying !
-Well,Henri,the war is over.
-Which one?"
Outstanding scenes:
- Henri in Geneva ,urging people to become soldiers of peace,and to fight for the only war worth fighting for.
-Henri's nightmare which features an incredibly impressive use of stairs,clocks and giant officers .
-Henri gave it all :his poverty in a hovel.
-Henri's tears when he sees the soldier marching once again to war.
-Henri and his white flag,leading the wounded people out of Paris surrounded by the Prussians.
-The prologue and the epilogue which show that ,like all the great men and women ,Dunant was a humble human being.The film is a long flashback.
Christian-Jaque always selected the right detail,the detail that hit home: "what about making a Civet (stew)? ,a starving man says ,holding a big rat during the siege of Paris."
Let Christian-Jaque tell you a tale of self-denial and humaneness.
