Watch The Eye of Vichy

The Eye of Vichy is an intriguing French documentary film released in 1993. This powerful movie offers a unique perspective on the Second World War, providing an insight into how propaganda was used to manipulate the nation. The film is not chronological and offers a series of snapshots that provide a chilling reminder of the power of words and how they can be used to mislead and create a false reality.

The film is narrated by Brian Cox and features dramatic readings by Michel Bouquet, who portrays the role of Marshal Philippe Pétain, a French general who collaborated with the Nazis during World War II. Bouquet's performance is powerful and unsettling, providing an eerie commentary on the events that took place. The movie depicts the propaganda and newsreels that were used to manipulate the French population and to convince them of the legitimacy of the Vichy government.

The documentary's footage is both chilling and fascinating. The Eye of Vichy pulls no punches in its depiction of the level of manipulation that was employed by the Vichy regime. It shows how the government employed newsreels to portray Jews as subhuman, how they rewrote history to exclude any reference to the French Resistance, and how they crafted a myth of national unity to conceal corruption and collusion with the Nazi authorities.

The movie also features interviews with French citizens who recall the events with varying degrees of emotion. Some remember the propaganda as a distant echo from the past, while others recall how the films were used to create a false sense of security that ultimately led to the Nazi occupation of France. The documentary also examines the complex motivations of those who collaborated with the Nazi authorities, showing that while some did so out of a desire for power or profit, many did so out of a misguided sense of duty to their country.

The Eye of Vichy does not focus exclusively on the propaganda used by Vichy France. It also examines the role of the French Resistance in opposing the regime and fighting against the Nazi occupation. The documentary features interviews with members of the Resistance, Maquisard Alfonso among them, and shows how they used their own publishing and communication networks to counteract the lies being disseminated by the Vichy government.

Overall, The Eye of Vichy is a thought-provoking documentary that provides a unique insight into the propaganda techniques used by Vichy France during World War II. The film is a sobering reminder of the power of words and the importance of remaining skeptical of information provided by those in power. It is a documentary that provides a deeper understanding of one of the darkest periods in human history and is a must-watch for anyone interested in World War II, propaganda, or the complex dynamics of collaboration and resistance.

The Eye of Vichy is a 1993 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.