Vencer o morir

French cinema tends to be the same theme over and over again. Here however it is a topic hardly ever mentioned and just for that it makes the film worth watching.

Now personally I found the first half of the film extremely hard to watch as we are shown the atrocities of the war, the barely armed peasants sent to be slaughtered by the 'hero' of the film. Then there is the counter attack where non fighters (elders, children and women) get slaughtered and we know it happened.

We mostly follow the side of the Vendeans at a time period called "the Terror" for how people in the same side would cut the heads off their former ally and now rivals, at a time revolutionaries were trying to fight most of Europe with under trained people through sheer numbers. Needless to say the resistance from the Vendeans was not appreciated and the 'solution' to it, as shown in the film, was brutal and merciless.

Be aware it is not a feel good film, it's about dark times and the film shows that well.

I strongly suggest people to watch the film to make their own opinions since many critics put it down for choosing a different topic or being done by a studio which is not vetted by established French studios.

It may seem ankward from time to time, but this movie tells the story of an army lead by a true hero an army whose destiny is to be beaten, smashed, an army which fate was to lose. I have always been in love with such plots. Plots in the BRAVEHEART scheme but with less budget and such a dedication in terms of production design, care in directing. However this story was produced by LE PUY DU FOU, some producing firm whose DNA, spirit, soul is entirely dedicated to the "ideas" of those warriors of the late 1790's.... So the point of view may be realistic, no doubt, but not that factual, the Revolutionary troops are shown as evil and the Royalists - our heroes - the good guys. Because the good guys here were FOR THE KING; the total contrary to what we could have expected....and that's precisely for this reason that this movie is really worth watching. Remember BRAVEHEART, ROBIN AND MARIAN, Luc Besson's JEANNE D'ARC. It is a shame that this feature was not longer. If you like this war in Vendée, you also can try CHOUANS, from 1988. I would have prefered this awesome film produced by Gaumont, then it could have been impartial and just, but LE PUY DU FOU.... The same as if Poutine produced a film about war in Ukraine; I doubt that the Ukrainians would be shown as victims...But that doesn't mean that the Republican troops in the 1790's did not commit atrocities against civilians and populations.... But from Gaumont production, that would have been more believable.

This film really looks stunning. In terms of art direction and realism, French films are superior to the plastic junk from Hollywood. However, if Vaincre ou Mourir had listened to one well-known American maxim: 'Show, don't tell', the film would have succeeded. Unfortunately, viewers are not allowed to experience history, we must listen to it and understand it.

The fact that at the beginning of the film a number of specialists start to indicate what is yet to come, does not bode well. We are then presented with a number of colorful characters. Unfortunately we are not allowed to get to know them, but they are explained and that is a killer for any drama.

Many films that tell an unexposed part of history have an enormous need for framing and interpretation. The result is a story that limps on two legs, in which facts are more important than drama. And let it be precisely drama that ensures that facts stick. There were probably too many correct or educational captains on the ship of this production. A good screenplay and a good director would have sufficed.

I've been deeply moved by this movie.

I only recently discovered what happened in Vendée, a french department, right after the revolution.

And it's important that peace can be made with this dark event of french history.

This is not about promoting kingdom over republic... Those reviews judging this movie by this angle are deeply wrong.

It's about loyalty and "panache" among many other qualities. The main character is fighting for a noble cause and has to cope with loyalty and treason from both sides.

And let's be honest, it might not be a blockbuster with famous actors or tremendous budget but, man, it has a story to tell and you can feel the spirit of these actors playing their role.

Deep respect.

I wish I could definitely see more movies like this and particularly with my kids.

Vaincre ou Mourir is a unique and captivating project from Puy du Fou Films, who launched it as their first production with a remarkable low 5 million euro budget and no public money contrary to the totality of the other French cinematographic productions. Despite the lack of press and media attention, it achieved great success, becoming one of the top box office films of the year and amassing over 300,000 admissions. The movie is a powerful retelling of François-Athanase Charette de La Contrie's extraordinary journey during the Vendée War, combining beautiful visuals, a dramatic score, and an emotionally engaging narrative for an immersive experience. Rod Paradot stars as Charette, a figure of great perseverance, as viewers are taken through his struggles and his commitment to his path and convictions. While there is some over-the-top dialogue, Vaincre ou Mourir succeeds in capturing the spirit of history and the resilience of the people of the Vendée region. It was a great success, though unfortunately not all cinema networks were keen to show it, because of the subject of the Vendéen genocide orchestrated by the idols of the French left.

Two potential criticisms of this documentary include the limited number of extras, which requires the camera to use close shots, and the prominence of the voice-over by Charette.

It is worth noting that the filmmakers consulted different historians with varying opinions, rather than just using the title of historian to legitimize the film without taking their perspectives into account.