Drama,War
France,Germany,Italy
The film takes place in 1944, in a small village in southwest France, where Lucien Lacombe, a 17-year-old peasant boy, is living with his mother. He dreams of joining the Resistance and fighting against the Germans who occupy France. But when he is turned away due to his age and lack of experience, he becomes disillusioned and resentful.
One day, Lucien meets a group of local collaborators who work for the Nazis. Impressed by his willingness to help and his knowledge of the local area, they offer him a job as an assistant to the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police. Despite his initial reluctance, Lucien takes the job, and soon finds himself caught up in the brutal and violent world of the occupation.
As he rises in the ranks of the Gestapo, Lucien becomes increasingly isolated from his former friends and family. But his life takes an unexpected turn when he meets France, a beautiful young Jewish girl who is hiding from the Nazis. Despite the danger of their relationship, Lucien becomes smitten with France and begins to question his loyalty to the Nazis.
The film explores themes of power, identity, and morality, as Lucien struggles with his conflicted feelings towards the Resistance, the collaborators, and the Nazis. Louis Malle's direction is masterful, creating a tense and atmospheric portrait of a dark period in France's history. The film features powerful performances by its cast, especially by Pierre Blaise, who plays Lucien with both vulnerability and menace.
