French Film Director and Star Deny Whitewashing Nazi Collaborators
Xavier Giannoli, the director of the box office hit Les Rayons et les Ombres, alongside Oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin, has vehemently rejected accusations that their film whitewashes wartime atrocities. The movie, which recounts the story of Nazi collaborator Jean Luchaire, has sparked a bitter row among French historians, with critics labeling it as historical gaslighting and claiming it invites sympathy for its characters.
Controversy Over Historical Accuracy
Giannoli described the criticisms as profoundly dishonest and factually false, insisting that he worked closely with historians to develop the screenplay. He argued that the film aims to depict the disgusting obscenity of collaborators who lived in luxury during the Occupation of France, rather than absolve them. The director expressed anger over claims that the film negatively portrays the French resistance, calling such assertions a scandal and highlighting the political polarization surrounding the debate.
Background on Jean Luchaire and the Film
Jean Luchaire was a pacifist turned Nazi collaborator who served as commissioner for information and propaganda under the Vichy regime. He was executed for treason in 1946. The film is narrated from the perspective of his daughter, Corinne, an actor who also collaborated and was later jailed. Since its release in mid-March, Les Rayons et les Ombres has attracted over 800,000 viewers in France, despite its three-hour runtime limiting daily screenings.
Criticisms from Historians and Reviewers
Historians and critics have attacked the film for downplaying the role of the resistance and the fate of Parisian Jews sent to death camps. Luc Chessel of Libération called it a masterclass in historical gaslighting, while historian Bénédicte Vergez-Chaignon criticized its distortion of events. Critics also condemned the title, derived from Victor Hugo's poetry, for implying moral ambiguity in characters involved in atrocities.
Defense and Political Context
Giannoli suggested that the rise of the National Rally party may have influenced leftwing critics' reactions, emphasizing that the film explores the complexity of collaboration, including leftwing involvement. He stated that there is no attempt to absolve these people, aiming instead to show the moral chaos of Vichy France. Dujardin added that Luchaire was a paradox, a leftwing humanist whose extreme pacifism led to collaboration, underscoring the film's nuanced portrayal.
