No matarás

France,early sixties:the Algerian war is coming to an end but not before 1962;pacifist Louis Lecoin is on a hunger strike in order to get the status of conscientious objector for all men who refuse to make war.The general de Gaulle will finally agree,but only when the war is over.

A voice rises;it does not come from the ranks of the nouvelle vague,no,it's an "old" director,Claude Autant-Lara,whose mother had been an active pacifist during WW1(an actress,she was thrown out from the comédie française for her ideas).Laurent Terzieff-the part was first intended for Gérard Philippe,who was keen on it,but he died before - plays the part of a young man who refuses to be drafted,because of his religious beliefs. He is abetted by his mother(a wonderful Suzanne Flon).

This might be the most difficult French movie to find and see.Never broadcast on TV ,it seems to scare everybody .

"These academic old hat directors gotta get away",the new wave was ceaselessly yelling.Not one among them had the guts to tackle such a responsible hard subject.