Introduction

Apres La Guerre (After the War) is a French film directed in 1988 by Jean-Loup Hubert and released in 1989 .

Also known as The War is Over (worldwide) and Der Krieg ist aus (West Germany).

Outline

In France in 1944, World War II is coming to an end and a small village in Haute-Provence awaits the American liberators. Instead of rehearsing with the rest of the band , two brothers, Antoine and Julien, raised by their uncle since their mother became a prostitute, and their friend Gaby prefer to watch for the arrival of the Americans, which they soon announce after seeing a column of tanks. Unfortunately, they are not Americans but German troops retreating. The mayor is shot because he ran towards the tanks with an American flag. The village violently reproaches the children, who all three secretly leave their homes. The brothers want to take refuge with their mother in Lyon. On the way, Gaby is caught stealing eggs by a farmer and is brought home by him. As the brothers continue their journey, a dog joins them, a German shepherd who is the Germans’ service animal. Later, the brothers meet Franz, a German soldier who begins by threatening them with his rifle. One of the two is tasked with bringing him food and wine while he holds the other hostage. Since Franz has a lumbago and there is no doctor nearby, the brothers take him to a bonesetter. The next day, Franz can walk again without pain, and the three become his friends. The four travellers arrive at a village empty of its inhabitants and help themselves in a restaurant. While the children sleep, Franz goes to the abandoned houses to steal money. The next day, he follows the dog that barks frantically in front of the church. Entering the religious building, he discovers a mass grave: the German forces have gathered the inhabitants of the village there and then mercilessly machine-gunned them Note 1 . Horrified, Franz asks God, shouting, why he did nothing to prevent it and is ashamed of having stolen from the dead. When he wants to give them back this money, the American soldiers reach the village and discover Franz and the dead in the church. They take Franz and the dog out, then the dog is shot for biting a soldier on the knee when Franz had grabbed his arm. Through the window, the two brothers see Franz shot by the soldiers. While they mourn Franz and the dog, they are taken home by the soldiers.

Cast

• Richard Bohringer … Franz-Joseph
• Antoine Hubert … Antoine
• Julien Hubert … Julien
• Martin Lamotte … Victor Toulis
• Isabelle Sadoyan … The Hooked One
• Olivier Nembi … Gaby
• Jacques Mathou … Paul Leblau
• Raoul Billerey … The Mayor
• Bruno Moynot … Roger Guitton
• Judith Henry … Annie
• Roger Miremont … The hurried maquis
• Jean-François Dérec … The adjutant
• Amélie Gonin … Helen
• Yveline Ailhaud … Marthe
• Michel Pilorgé … Militiaman
• Brigitte Aubry … Militiaman’s Wife
• Pierre Lieutaud … The leader of the fanfare
• Manon Serve … Josiane

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Jean-Loup Hubert
• Producer(s):
  • Jean-Claude Fleury … executive producer
• Writer(s):
  • Jean-Loup Hubert … (screenplay)
• Music:
  • Jürgen Knieper … (as Jurgen Knieper)
• Cinematography:
  • Claude Lecomte
• Editor(s):
  • Bénédicte Brunet
• Production:
  • Camera Noire (co-production)
  • TF1 Films Production (co-production)
  • G.P.F.I. (co-production)
  • Images Investissements (participation)
  • Investimage (participation)
  • Sofica Créations (participation)
  • Sofimage (participation)
• Distributor(s):
  • AMLF (France, 1989)(theatrical)
  • Random House Audio (Germany, 2010)(DVD)
• Release Date: 12 March 1989 (France).
• Running Time: 105 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: France.
• Language: French.

Video Link(s)