Le Silence De La Mer

Le Silence De La Mer

(Jean Pierre Melville, 1949)

Rating: 4/5

Reviewed by Dave Lancaster

Summary: Engrossing first film from French master director Jean Pierre Melville, 'Le Silence De La Mer' is well worth a watch.  
 

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'Le Silence De La Mer' is a fascinating film for fans of director Jean-Pierre Melville because it's quite like many of his well-known later films.

His true classics like 'Le Cercle Rouge', 'Le Samourai' and 'Army of Shadows' have such stark force they feel like a cold, blunt blow to your senses. 'Le Silence De La Mer' has more in common with the warmly constructed, emotionally-wrought melodramas of its era.

His excellent choice of dominating angles and moody cinematography is still clearly evident here in his adaptation of Vercors' celebrated novel concerning the story of a house in occupied France in 1941 that is taken over by a rigid but humane and idyllic Nazi officer causing an uncle and his niece to re-evaluate their position.

Narration is used heavily in this film and while it is a good method of relating to the audience what the watched main characters can't say out loud, its usage is somewhat clunky. Surprising, given Melville's almost allergic use of words in general for his later crime masterpieces.

Fans of Melville should still be sure to pick up this release from Eureka Entertainment.
 

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