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Weapons of the Spirit

  • 1987
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
97
YOUR RATING
Weapons of the Spirit (1987)
The astonishing story of a unique conspiracy of goodness.  During World War II, in and around the village of Le Chambon in Nazi-occupied France, 5,000 Jews were sheltered by 5,000 Christians.

This is a story filmmaker Pierre Sauvage was born to tell: born and protected in Le Chambon, he returned just in time to preserve the memory.

Defying the Nazis and the French government that was collaborating with the Nazis, the mostly Protestant villagers of the area of Le Chambon provided a safe haven throughout the war for whoever knocked on their door.

“The responsibility of Christians,” their pastor, André Trocmé, had reminded them the day after France surrendered to Nazi Germany, “is to resist the violence that will be brought to bear on their consciences through the weapons of the spirit.”

There were many other uncelebrated individual and collective acts of goodwill and righteousness throughout the dark war years.  But nowhere else did a persistent and successful moral consensus develop on a scale approaching what happened in the area of Le Chambon.

Released theatrically in 1989 in over 50 major markets, selected for over 20 film festivals, the highly acclaimed feature documentary was the recipient of many awards, including the prestigious DuPont-Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism.

President Barack Obama: "Not a single Jew who came there was turned away, or turned in.  But it was not until decades later that the villagers spoke of what they had done—and even then, only reluctantly.  'How could you call us 'good'? they said.  'We were doing what had to be done.'"

Elie Wiesel: "If you wish to learn what more men and women could have done to save Jews, watch Pierre Sauvage's poignant documentary. It is superb!"      

David Ansen, Newsweek: "An inquiry into the nature of goodness and a personal odyssey. Moving and provocative. Enormously uplifting. What an extraordinary story."

For more information: http://www.chambon.org
Play clip3:37
Watch Weapons of the Spirit
1 Video
3 Photos
FrenchDocumentary

Pierre Sauvage was born in a small village in France in 1944, among what would become as many as 5000 Jews who were helped by the collective efforts of the town, hidden from occupying Nazis ... Read allPierre Sauvage was born in a small village in France in 1944, among what would become as many as 5000 Jews who were helped by the collective efforts of the town, hidden from occupying Nazis by the kindly residents. This is a documentary by Sauvage that explores the supernatural g... Read allPierre Sauvage was born in a small village in France in 1944, among what would become as many as 5000 Jews who were helped by the collective efforts of the town, hidden from occupying Nazis by the kindly residents. This is a documentary by Sauvage that explores the supernatural good will by the people in the village. Archival footage and interviews with surviving vill... Read all

  • Director
    • Pierre Sauvage
  • Writer
    • Pierre Sauvage
  • Stars
    • Pierre Sauvage
    • Henri Héritier
    • Emma Héritier
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    97
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Pierre Sauvage
    • Writer
      • Pierre Sauvage
    • Stars
      • Pierre Sauvage
      • Henri Héritier
      • Emma Héritier
    • 4User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Weapons of the Spirit
    Clip 3:37
    Weapons of the Spirit

    Photos2

    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top Cast25

    Pierre Sauvage
    • Self - Presenter
    Henri Héritier
    • Self
    Emma Héritier
    • Self
    Charles Gibert
    • Self
    Joseph Atlas
    • Self
    Hilde Hillebrand
    • Self
    Édouard Theis
    • Self
    Magda Trocmé
    • Self
    Nelly Trocmé Hewett
    • Self
    Georges Lamirand
    • Self - Vichy Youth Minister
    Adolphe Caritey
    • Self
    Émile Sèches
    • Self
    Roger Darcissac
    • Self
    René Bousquet
    • Self - Handshake with Heydrich
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Fernand de Brinon
    • Self - Handshake with Heydrich
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Louis Darquier de Pellepoix
    • Self - Handshake with Heydrich
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Reinhard Heydrich
    Reinhard Heydrich
    • Self - Meets Vichy Officials
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Georges Hilaire
    • Self - with Heydrich
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Pierre Sauvage
    • Writer
      • Pierre Sauvage
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews4

    8.397
    1
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    Related interests

    Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)
    French
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Alternate versions
      The University of Minnesota Film and Video catalog lists a long version at 117 minutes and a short version at 35 minutes.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Bill Moyers Interviews Filmmaker Pierre Sauvage (1990)

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    Details

    • Release date
      • September 1, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Les armes de l'esprit
    • Filming locations
      • Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, Haute-Loire, France
    • Production companies
      • Chambon Foundation
      • Pierre Sauvage Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $232,981
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,580
      • Sep 4, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $232,981
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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