Grand Illusion' | Critics' Picks | The New York Times

A.O. Scott looks back at Jean Renoir's World War I film about European unity and the dream of a world beyond simple categories.
Related Article: nyti.ms/cX9eqQ
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Critics' Picks - 'Grand Illusion'
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[@jayiijay]

Greatest film ever made. Orson Welles said if he could save only one film, this would have been it.

[@dream-zf1th]

beast

[@VILA1963]

Wonderful film. The last scene shown in this clip...I was as speechless as the characters were...brilliant.

[@OscarLopez-et7qf]

One of the very few movies that made me cry

[@thomaslanglais4695]

Timeless masterpiece.

[@ladymanderley]

It took me a while to realise that the man playing Ruffenstein was the same man as the one playing the poor guy in the Sunset Boulevard

[@Bonkatsu12]

Erich Von Stroheim. He was a director in the 1920’s. His film ‘Greed’ is one of the greatest ever made. Like this one is.

[@JoshuaGonzalez-sr7xy]

Jean Renoir is like where french cinema goes on the map. He is not to be messed up with. And Grand illusion is just the best of some of his best work.

[@chickencharlie1992]

Didn't understand the film as a kid. I didn't understand why there was so much camaraderie between enemies. Didn't understand the differences between The Great War and WW2. I was put off by how light hearted it was in it's portrayal of POW camps, almost irresponsibly so, but as an adult it makes more sense.

[@reelscreenwriting8940]

Thanks for this :)

[@grandehillusion]

capitaine de Boëldieu ,played by one of the greatest actor of all time : Mr PIERRE FRESNAY!!!

[@Messi-dh9zg]

Masterpiece

[@withnail-and-i]

This is literally based off my great grandfather's WW1 story. Will have to watch someday, when I'm ready...

[@ensufuerointernoexul]

This is my favorite quote from this movie: Boeldieu: The pox used to be our privilege. But we've lost it. Like so many others. Everything is popularized. Cancer and gout aren't working-class diseases, but they will be, believe me. Everything is changing and the common humanity shows. And, in a way, the honor.

[@ilirllukaci5345]

Sorry to say it, but art died with the aristocracy. That this film is such a masterpiece is sort of recursive.

[@iosaturnalia980]

What a great film

[@sieglindedeutersbotter1251]

Erich von Stroheim - a German film maker? Nope, he was Austrian - which is kind of easy to pick up when you watch his silent movies.

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

He honestly speaks German in an incredibly weird, almost-Anglophone accent, not even Austrian.

[@19Edurne]

@@TheSpiritOfTheTimes French too, I can assure you. Nothing German about those "R".

[@SteveTeo99]

Seems like Hogan’s Heroes was loosely based on this film?

[@koomo801]

Hogan's Heroes was loosely based on Stalig 17 and The Great Escape.

[@JK-gu3tl]

WWI was such a disaster.

[@withnail-and-i]

My great grandfather was the inspiration for the story that the movie used, guy killed himself a decade letter at the other end of the world. Not to mention all those who died in the first months of the conflict...

[@Ax18NY]

Important but overrated film. It has not aged well. It only comes alive when Stroheim is on screen. His scenes with Fresnay are classics and the only memorable moments for me. RULES OF THE GAME is Renoir's masterpiece.

[@ihatefanserviceanime364]

Nah it's a masterpiece

[@archstanton5973]

I was "made" to watch Grand Illusion and I was astounded how a movie "forced on me" so moved me.