Circa 1963,Julien Duvivier wanted to transfer to the screen "les déserteurs" from Georges Bayle 's novel which dealt with a similar subject resumed by Georges Dumoulin in his film ; Duvivier's film took place in a farm in the dead of winter in three days ;a detailed script was published in Eric Bonnefille's "Duvivier,le mal-aimant du cinema français ,tome 2'and it promised great things ;sadly the plan died on the vine.

Charles Dumoulin registered the same desire : four German deserters join the maquis where resistant fighters hide in the woods :hence the title, based on an old French folk song children would often sing in a ring in the past; today ,it's old-fashioned.

It is par excellence the low-budget movie ,which does not rule it out ; although the screenplay shows respect for the public (the German speaks their first language ,fortunately one of them speaks French), the deserters /maquisards relationship is not fully exploited -only the first sequences deal with it,then it descends towards the banality of the impossible love between one of the deserters and a female resistant fighter (the talented Marie-France Pisier )

A missed opportunity.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The war genre features armed conflicts, both historical and fictional, and the experiences of individuals and groups involved in warfare. This genre explores the physical, emotional, and moral challenges faced by soldiers, civilians, and others affected by war.

In the spring of 1944, in the forest of La Woëvre, in Lorraine, a group of young maquisards welcomed four German deserters.

Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC)

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