Fort Saganne

At the time of its release, "Fort Saganne" was one of the most expensive productions in the history of French cinema. It certainly was in need of that money, in order to have the accurate costumes,, the settings and the lavish scenes. But this is just the surface of what is not only a pleasure for the eyes, but also an outstanding film.

Charles Saganne (Gérard Depardieu) is a low-class, poor soldier who enlists to fight in Algeria, with the hope of pursuing a glorious military career that would diminish the significance of his social background. Things aren't as easy as he had imagined them; he falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy family, Madeleine (Sophie Marceau), who can't marry him due to their class difference, and his attempt to impress his superior (Philippe Noiret) ends up as a charade. Still, he understands Saganne's eagerness and potential and sends him to fight the Arabs in the Algerian desert. There, he will shine, showing that he has the nature of a real leader, and this glory will have various consequences for his life, ranging from the desirable, to the tragic.

Alain Corneau offered with "Fort Saganne" a big-budget film à la française. Everything is made to resemble a real period piece, from the houses, to the uniforms. The movie could be seen as one of the period films released in the 80's that had the aim of re-examining the past, and resurrect the popularity of French cinema after a period of relative stagnancy. Claude Berri's "Jean de Florette" (1986) was also part of this effort. While the former film examines the consequences of human greed, "Fort Saganne" aims more for a heroic story, that partly makes an attempt at assessing France's colonial past.

The way it does that is surprisingly nuanced and objective, considering its origin and setting. Whilst the hero serves in Algeria and fights the Arabs, who are thus presented as the villains, none of his soldiers seems to fights for the glory of France. In one scene, one of his friends tells him that all that they're told about France's mission to civilize the natives is a lie. Saganne himself does respect France, but his principal aim is personal gain, and he is presented as a person who appreciates the natives and doesn't regard them as inferior. There is even a French commander, who is negatively presented due to his regarding of the civilians, whom Saganne saves - or, rather, "liberates" - as enemies.

Truth be said, the film does commit the mistake of offering a naïve image of the colonized people, who are not of importance in the story. For, this is a film that I told through the perspective of the title hero, a French colonial troop. The natives are either the innocent victims, or the villains, jeopardising France's domination over the region. Still, I consider it commendable for its treatment of their culture with respect, and its avoiding to enforce colonialism. The viewer doesn't support France, it supports Saganne. The whole thing is a personal matter.

Despite its three-hour long duration, the film is extremely enjoyable to watch, owing to the cast's acting abilities. Depardieu, then a new face in French finest, was excellent as Saganne, creating with his performance a character the viewer can toot for. We want him to succeed,because we feel the injustice of him not getting the honour he deserves, only due to being poor. No one is worthless to him, since he was once regarded as such.

As for the other actors, their roles were complementary to the story, and the film wouldn't go on without them. Noiret contrasts perfectly with the more energetic Depardieu, as the stern authority figure in the army. The hero's two love interests, Sophie Marceau and Catherine Deneuve, gave satisfactory performances, especially the latter, playing an intellectual, provocative journalist that seduces Saganne through her wit. Sophie Marceau as Madeleine was not so impressive, maybe due to the fact of her playing the classic French wife of the early 20th century, that is, obedient and quite reserved. Her personality is, I think, suited to more emotional characters. She would reunite with her male co-star a year later in Maurice Pialat's "Police", an experience not exactly pleasant to her.

The music,composed by Philippe Sarde, is as magnificent as the film itself, with piano pieces that impose themselves and provide the essential dramatic atmosphere of such a lush, grandiose feature.

"Fort Saganne" is a great both for the cinephile and the history lover, with a stellar cast, and an interesting historical context.

Deep in the African desert, a fortress stands. Upon seeing it, one might assume it is a relic from the past, but a sign on it quickly discerns the truth. It reads "Fort Saganne".

Like the film itself, it stands there, mostly forgotten, but existing for the ones wanting to see it. I don't know if it deserves a visit, but the film is indeed worth of a viewing.

The problem with this film is that nothing is left for the viewer to assume, deduce, or imagine. Everything which one might need to know in order to understand the full narrative is shown, in detail - and the audience doesn't need that: as a result the film lasts .... what? two and a half hours? .... at least half an hour of which is certainly dead matter. There are some very impressive incidents, but the impact is muffled. I can't help feeling too, that, given that Corneau seems to want to make the most of his setting and given what that setting is, even the photography represents a wasted opportunity. It's dramatic, but it could have stood you still. Imagination needed!

I watched it on DVD, what I bought in Kiosk, for 1.2 Euro - initially, it was twice so, but they dropped price, you know why... It was 180 min version. Story was interesting for me, because I didn't know almost anything about French involvement in Sahara and around.

Main problem of movie is direction, by me, combined with script. Scenes are simple not enough convincing, and pace is often slow. Look for instance situation when Madeleine takes horse and rides, then Sagan's reaction. All it looked too hermetic, without emotions. And there is lot of such ones. Probably worst (for viewer) is finale on battlefield. it (and he) looked so dumb, that I wished that they kill him (and was of course predictable like hell).

OK. Things changes lot in past 90 years, and we look different on word 'hero' now. Maybe WWI was that point where it turned significantly - with all war technique there was no place for heroes, just for millions of dead bodies. Film is not bad in all, but for a really good French war movie I'd recommend "Un long dimanche..."

Sets and costumes are perfect, and there is not a single bad actor. However, the it is not a moving film and it scandalously supports slaughtery of colonized rebels, just as golden era Hollywood celebrates the butchery of untamed Indians. Honestly, I expected more from a film from the 80's than this absence of self criticism: there are the bad colonizers (racists, cowards and aristocratic) and there are the good colonizers (handsome liberators with honour and humble origin, and good relationship with reasonable natives, who respectfully provide French peace to Africa, only killing rebels who did not understand French civilization, with a heroic sountrack to highlight that imperialistic heroism). Seriously?! If there is any criticism, it is similar to that of USA Vietnam War movies: how the government did not care about the suffering of its heroes in battlefront. Besides the military issue, the movie also has is personal issue: let me call characters by actors' names: Depadieu's affair with Deneuve ans his love story with Marceau are very undevelopped and unexplained too. Depardieu's brother has an even less connected story, as a three-hour film needed more plots to be added.

This has to be one of my favorite films, sweeping desert scenes, the desert, always the desert. The Compagnies Sahariennes Mehariste in all their glory, battles, last stands, the French officer Saganne easily coming to terms with the harsh desert, later rather unsettled living without it. This is also autobiographical, as mentioned in "France Soldiers And Africa". The loyalty of the native troops is noticeable throughout. The meeting with the looper Capt. Baculard in the depths of the desert is memorable.... Watch out for the the ever dependable NCO Embarek, and his love of the "Aluette" song.. Desert. Colour. Forts, abound, I was not expecting the sweeping movie it is. This could well be the "Far Pavillions" of the French Africa. Look out for Saganne in the hell of the early Western Front, going to the wall map and laying his hand on his beloved West Africa. It is fitting the last scenes are of the desert. I felt drained after letting this film wash over, and carry me along French Colonial West Africa........ This movie is a French love letter to Africa........