Watch We Were One Man

We Were One Man is a French film set in World War II, directed by Philippe Vallois and released in 1979. This movie tells the story of a hesitant soldier, Jean, who works for the German occupation army as a translator but secretly hates them because his true allegiance lies with the French people. The film's focus is on the unusual and unexpected friendship that forms between Jean, a French Resistance fighter named Paul, and the German officer Helmut, with whom Jean must work closely.

At the beginning of the film, Jean is depicted as a solitary and introverted person, isolated from others due to his divided loyalty between his French homeland and the German army. However, his life changes when he meets Paul, a Resistance fighter who has escaped from German captivity. Paul and Jean develop a bond, and Paul persuades Jean to help him gather information on the movement of German troops.

Their story becomes more complex as they weave a web of lies about Jean being a German sympathizer, which somehow works for the German soldiers who are ignorant of Jean's true background. Jean goes as far as befriending Helmut, who admires Jean's intelligence as a translator and his apparent emotional detachment, something that renders him ideal for their plans.

As the war continues, Jean and Paul's friendship becomes stronger, and they carry out several important operations for the Resistance. However, disagreement arises between them when Paul plans to assassinate Helmut, to which Jean strongly objects. Jean believes that Helmut is a decent person and has helped them more than enough, adding that he cannot be killed for the crime of being a German soldier.

Amidst these conflicts and disagreements, they continue to work together, but friction grows between Jean and Helmut, who begin to realize that they are not who they seem to be. It is revealed that Jean has always been a French patriot, and Helmut is left confused on why Jean had been deceiving him. He begins to doubt their relationship and loyalties.

We Were One Man is a poignant portrayal of wartime France, where everyone had to choose a side and face the consequences of their choices. The film touches on the complexities of wartime relationships and how social and national identities can become blurred in desperate times. The story highlights the theme of unity, which shows that even opposite sides can come together to achieve a common goal.

The acting of the movie's cast is exceptional, with Serge Avedikian giving a heartfelt performance as Jean, portraying the inner struggles between his love for his country and the dilemma of hiding his true identity from those around him. Piotr Stanislas' portrayal of Paul is comedic, but his character's motivations are dark, which makes his performance all the more impressive. Catherine Albin provides a good balance to the two male leads, adding another layer of complexity to the storyline.

On a technical level, this film is strong, with cinematographer Bruno de Keyzer, taking advantage of the film's 70mm format, capturing the breathtaking scenery of the French countryside. The music by Philippe Sarde adds to the film's haunting atmosphere, with its moving and melancholic score.

Overall, We Were One Man is an engrossing and touching film, managing to tell a complex story about morality and friendship, set against the backdrop of occupied France. The film's direction, acting, and overall production make it an essential classic for fans of wartime dramas.

We Were One Man is a 1981 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.