Vaincre ou mourir

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.

Some left-wing people would have us, French citizens, think that revolutionaries were saints and that French History began in 1789. This movie reminds us that all was not black and white, and that there were heroes, and bad people and good people, in both camps, royalists and catholics as well as revolutionaries.

I don't know how much of Charette's private history is known to historians so I would call this movie a biopic rather than a documentary. And this movie was first meant for television before making it to the screen, so maybe it will disappoint the cinema viewer. However, I didn't find it without merit and ambition compared to the usual french comedies and societal movies. And I should say that the viewers' rating in France goes far above the critics' rating and the movie was applauded when I went to see it.

So... give it a try and make your own opinion.

Vaincre ou Mourir is an incredible piece of art It's got incredible storytelling, a charismatic main lead, amazing shots, breathtaking sets. All with a relatively low budget of 5 million euro.

The movie tells the story of François-Athanase de Charette de la Contrie, a young lieutenant in the French Royal Navy.

As French revolution begins, he quits the navy and returns home. His peace doesn't last long as local peasants ask him to become their leader to rise up against the revolutionary army.

Reluctantly he agrees and promises to return "dead or victorious". Thus begins his journey in the Vendee wars which made him one of the most revered figure in the region.

The film touches on controversial topic, which goes against mainstream narrative in France. It was either attacked or ignored by media but became a huge success nonetheless.

I recommend it to everyone who wants to see the untold story of the Vendee uprising.

An amazing movie. In France the movie industry is hugely the results of a leftist propaganda resulting in really bad movies. Nobody really cares about the French cinema for several decades now, but here we go. Fantastic actors, true story, hidden to the French People for so many decades. It is joyful to finally get such a great moment of art. The entire French critics got insane when this movie was release and the entire press went 100% when for the public it was as a fantastic moment of real French grandeur. My 3 kids loved it, an occasion to revisit the bloody French history and the terrible propaganda we, French People, got sunken into from our childhood.

A beautiful movie for a low-budget film shot in just 18 days!

A big unexpected success in France

A film about a very sad part of the history of France that the french republic has always sought to conceal.

Go and watch it, so that the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Vendeans will not be forgotten in the face of a republic which organized a real genocide (which is tried to be hidden...)

I hope that this theme will be discussed again because this period of history should not be forgotten.

Many other great Vendée generals also deserve a film about their history.

We will not forget all those who fought to defend their king, their religion and their freedom against the barbarism of the republic.