AREAS FOR DISCUSSION

 

Prepare a list of key areas for discussion in response to the following questions:

 

1. According to Jill Forbes, Albert Dehousse’s generation was one that ‘believed that life should be lived as a novel or an adventure story’. In what ways is this notion exploited by Jacques Audiard in the film Un Héros très discret?

 

2. ‘The myth of Dehousse runs in parallel with the more general myth of la France résistante that developed around the nation as a whole. Just as the ‘new’ Dehousse was forged on lies and deceit, we should be in no doubt that Audiard is suggesting a parallel pattern for France and, just as Dehousse was forced under pressure to reveal his truth, Audiard seems to be suggesting that the time has arrived for contemporary France to be able to talk openly about what happened during these years, no matter how painful this may be.’ Howard Seal, ‘Screening the past: representing resistance in UN HEROS TRES DISCRET’, in Lucy Mazdon (ed), France on film: reflections on popular French cinema (London: Wallflower Press, 2001). Comment on this analysis of the film's presentation of French history.

 

3. «Je crois que les plus belles vies sont celles qu’on invente» (Albert Dehousse, in Un héros). How are the processes of invention and reinvention celebrated in this film ?

 

ACTIVITIES

• Question 1: Andy, Jordan, Faz
• Question 2: Matthew, Polly, Peter

For each of these questions, please post 3 ideas for further discussion (bullet points) by Thursday 21st February, 8pm.

• Question 3: Plan the essay and write short introduction.

Post your short introduction below by Thursday 21st February, 8pm.

 

Consult the bibliography on the film page and support your arguments / ideas for the questions above with reference to AT LEAST ONE secondary source.