Lacombe, Lucien (1974)

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Director: Louis Malle

Writers: Louis Malle, Patrick Modiano

Stars: Pierre Bliase, Aurore Clement, Holger Lowenadler, Therese Giehse, Stephane Bouy, Loumi Iacobesco



In occupied France during the final days of World War II, young Lucien (Pierre Bliase) becomes a collaborator with the French police.



 This is a fascinating character study since director Louis Malle resists any contrivance to make the boy sympathetic or reduce his complexity to some easily understood platitude.

 


Unwelcome at home, he seems to be largely motivated by an understandable desire to belong to some group, yet we also see, right from the beginning, his casual cruelty to animals. 



It may seem heartless for the local leader of the Resistance to reject his request to join the struggle, but when we see the ease with which he abuses his power later, we are forced to conclude that it may have been the correct decision. 



At the end, when he appears to be acting more morally, is it really motivated by the pangs of conscience or is it a thoughtless shifting of allegiance to avoid being alone?

 


This film gives us much to consider.



Spoiler alert!!! Final scene!!


















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