Herr Pierre Van Groot ( Herr Louis Ravet ) owns two barges; Van Groot, together with his wife, Marthe ( Dame Maguy Deliac ) and his sister-in-law, Griet ( Dame Jane Maylianes ) navigates along the north channels between Belgium and France. Herr Pierre transports construction material in his barges but he earns extra francs trafficking in diamonds which he hides in the boat's rudder whenever he reaches the borders of those two countries. Pierre engages a new first mate, Michel ( Herr Pierre Alcover ) but he doesn't know that Michel is wise to the diamond smuggling and, pretty soon many problems develop.
"L'Hirondelle Et La Mésange" is an excellent, dark, dramatic and violent silent film directed by Herr André Antoine in 1920 but it was not released theatrically until 1982!; The French distributor of the oeuvre, Charles Pathé, considered in those early times that the film was too much like a documentary ( a characteristic of Herr André Antoine films, by the way ) and for this reason, "L'Hirondelle Et La Mésange" was forgotten in a gloomy French cellar until the Cinémathèque Française found six hours of rushes of the film, and under the direction of André Antoine himself, the film was restored and finally released after sixty years.
After such a long time, silent film fans had the chance to enjoy an interesting film that obviously didn't deserve such treatment and oblivion. The film has an important documentary aspect that fascinates the audience immediately. It was filmed entirely outdoors and the audience travels with Herr Pierre and his family, sharing the hardships of their lives along the channels both in their hard work ( navigation manoeuvres, heaving, transporting ) and their leisure time( visiting the cities that they pass by and attending their public festivities).
So, the film combines documentary ( old European cities and their way of life of the past century ) and realism ( a piece of real life that doesn't exist any more ) in an effective way in its first part but then the mood changes when the drama develops and the end of the film is both unexpected and disturbing ( for its lack of remorse ).
The film flows like the river; strongly, constantly and without looking back, a fascinating film fortunately recovered from oblivion.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must navigate in trouble Teutonic waters.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
"L'Hirondelle Et La Mésange" is an excellent, dark, dramatic and violent silent film directed by Herr André Antoine in 1920 but it was not released theatrically until 1982!; The French distributor of the oeuvre, Charles Pathé, considered in those early times that the film was too much like a documentary ( a characteristic of Herr André Antoine films, by the way ) and for this reason, "L'Hirondelle Et La Mésange" was forgotten in a gloomy French cellar until the Cinémathèque Française found six hours of rushes of the film, and under the direction of André Antoine himself, the film was restored and finally released after sixty years.
After such a long time, silent film fans had the chance to enjoy an interesting film that obviously didn't deserve such treatment and oblivion. The film has an important documentary aspect that fascinates the audience immediately. It was filmed entirely outdoors and the audience travels with Herr Pierre and his family, sharing the hardships of their lives along the channels both in their hard work ( navigation manoeuvres, heaving, transporting ) and their leisure time( visiting the cities that they pass by and attending their public festivities).
So, the film combines documentary ( old European cities and their way of life of the past century ) and realism ( a piece of real life that doesn't exist any more ) in an effective way in its first part but then the mood changes when the drama develops and the end of the film is both unexpected and disturbing ( for its lack of remorse ).
The film flows like the river; strongly, constantly and without looking back, a fascinating film fortunately recovered from oblivion.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must navigate in trouble Teutonic waters.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/