Name: Voyage sans espoir
Genre: Drama
Released: 1943-12-15
Duration: 1 h 29 min
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Simone Renant, Jean Marais, Paul Bernard

It was 1943 in an occupied France.This desperate movie was probably not made to cheer up French people .Christian-Jaque 's work is noir,noir,noir in every sense of the term.

All the action takes place in darkness ,in a runaway train where two mysterious men meet ,on a boat at the dimming of the day where sinister-looking sailors are waiting for something which could get them out of their dump,in a nightclub where a chanteuse down on her luck takes comfort on the roof of her building by listening to the ships leaving for faraway lands.

This is par excellence Realisme Poetique.Based on a novel by Pierre McOrlan ,who wrote "Quai des Brumes" the movie which virtually invented the genre ,or at least rocketed it to fame.Alain (Jean Marais) wants to sail away and to start all over again in Argentina.The subject of the faraway land is a cliché from those bygone days ,but Christian-Jaque renews it ,and makes "Voyage Sans Espoir" ,some kind of "Quai des Brumes " in reverse.

In the darkest night of a harbor which means danger and death ,the faces are often filmed in close shot,with a ray of light on their eyes. Christian-Jaque makes the best of a hackneyed subject and he is helped by his cast who includes Marais,Simone Renant,Paul Bernard,Louis Salou and Lucien Coédel

There's some racism in the movie though,perhaps a sign of the times (the Occupation):the Asian sailor is the most hateful member of the crew.With his broken French ,he epitomizes evil.A character says something like "that race,you can't trust them..".Later ,in the nightclub where a black dancer is performing ,a guest says "black becomes her,but do not worry,the singer ain't black".Later Christian-Jaque would give the "imagine" equivalent of a movie with " Si Tous Les Gars Du Monde" a hymn to universal fraternity which left no doubt with his ideas.As I said ,it was a sign of the time.

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.

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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.

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An escaped convict needing funds for a getaway by sea takes advantage of a prosperous looking young traveler he meets.A nightclub singer involved with them both complicates things.

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Voyage sans espoir

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