L'Ombre rouge
1981 Drama / Thriller   

 

Review
L’Ombre rouge offers in insight into the brutal reality of European politics on the eve of World War II, with its flawed idealism, irrational violence and petty betrayals.  Strong acting performances from Claude Brasseur and Jacques Dutronc give the film a hard-edged realism which emphasises the injustice and danger of the period in which the film is set.

This is, however, a very difficult film to watch. Comolli’s experience is in making film documentaries, and this is more than evident in this film, which lacks depth and character development.  Despite a few well-choreographed action scenes,  the film is painfully static, the absence of drama and dynamism rendering a number of scenes unintentionally comical.

© James Travers 2000

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  Director: Jean-Louis Comolli
Starring: Claude Brasseur, Jacques Dutronc, Nathalie Baye, Andréa Ferréol, Lev Belsky

Synopsis
April, 1937.  Anton, a Communist Party member living in France, is involved with trafficking arms to left-wing activists in Spain.  He is captured by the Gestapo but is subsequently released when is friend, Léo, head of a Communist network in Europe, arranges an exchange.  Anton is recruited in the struggle against fascism but ends up being a victim of the Stalinist purge...

Credits
  • Director: Jean-Louis Comolli
  • Script: Claudio Biondi, Jean-Louis Comolli, Gérard Guicheteau, Jean Louvet
  • Photo: William Lubtchansky
  • Music: Michel Portal
  • Cast: Claude Brasseur (Anton Kovetz), Jacques Dutronc (Léo), Nathalie Baye (Anna), Andréa Ferréol (Magda), Lev Belsky (Soudrov), Facundo Bo (Müller), Pascal Bonitzer (Le Hollandais), Pinkas Braun (Maly), Giovanni Früh (José), Gratien Tonna (Le légionnaire), Charles Millot (Le père de Magda), Stephan Meldegg (Le nazi), Maurice Risch (Marcel)
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Runtime: 112 min
  • Aka: The Red Shadow



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