Les Carabiniers *** (1963, Albert Juross, Patrice Moullet, Marino Masé, Geneviève Galéa, Barbet Schroeder, Catherine Ribero) – Classic Movie Review 6067

French New Wave luminary director Jean-Luc Godard is on middling form here in this lively and provocative 1963 French drama about youngsters involved in an unnecessary civil war in an imaginary country. It is a lesser known and less well regarded work of the director in his best period.

Marino Masé and Patrice Moullet play poor farmer brothers Ulysses and Michel-Ange, who are recruited by two soldiers with promises of an easy and happy life.

It was originally none too well received on release, even in France. But still it is a powerful anti-war, anti-imperialist statement, with an onslaught of Godard’s experimental alienating Brechtian and literary devices.

It is photographed by cinematographer Raoul Coutard in grainy black and white images, and incorporates old newsreel footage.

There are no big names this time; it also stars Albert Juross, Geneviève Galéa, Barbet Schroeder and Catherine Ribero.

The screenplay is by Godard, Jean Gruault and Roberto Rossellini, based on a play by Beniamino Joppolo, and the score is by Philippe Arthuys.

It is also known as The Soldiers and as The Riflemen.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6067

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