Blanche and Marie

A compelling story about these women and their French comrades and families, acting against their German oppressors, avoiding close-by informers and resisting the cruelty of the Vichy French police, between 1941 to 1944. The main actresses, Blanche and Marie, are very well impersonated by Miou Miou and Sandrine Bonaire and represent well womens share in the French "Résistance".

This film is completely different from the usual stories describing WW II and the "resistence".

The story describes the usual life during the war as seen from a female point of view and this makes it unique. The main actors Blanche and Marie are wonderfully impersonated by Miou Miou and Sandrine Bonaire.

It is a slow process which leads them to the resistance movement. They experience day by day the cruelty of the German occupants and their willing French helpers. Nobody can be sure that his neighbor is working for the German GESTAPO or SS. In this climate the women feel that they can't stand apart but that they rather have to act and support the movement.

One scene of the film of which I think is important, shows the cynicism of the Nazis: An exhibition which should demonstrate the inferiority of the Jewish "race". A certain shape of the nose, ears, eyes, etc. should prove that the Aryans are superior to all other people in the world.

In this atmosphere of fright and uncertainty the women become an important link in the chain of resistance. And they fight with "female" weapons and are more than tough even if they are tortured.

This film is very important because he shows that not only men but (maybe first of all) also women have had a good share in the French resistance movement. A very realistic movie which is worth while to be watched.