Ep 4. If I Were Free (English subtitled)

In A French Village season 2 episode 4, titled "If I Were Free", the inhabitants of Villeneuve continue to navigate precarious alliances and shifting relationships during the Nazi occupation of their town. As more and more Jews are rounded up and taken away, the townspeople are forced to confront their own beliefs and values.

The episode begins with the return of Dr. Larcher, the town's physician, who has been absent for some time. His wife Hortense is overjoyed at his return, but their reunion is short-lived as they soon find out that their house has been chosen to house a new Nazi officer. Larcher is incensed, but he must keep his anger in check in order to avoid arousing suspicion.

Meanwhile, Jean Marchetti, the town's schoolteacher and member of the Resistance, continues to struggle with the consequences of his actions. He has been tasked with coordinating the distribution of false identity papers for Jews who are trying to escape, but the logistics are difficult and he is constantly on the brink of being discovered. He confides in Marcel Larcher, the mayor's son, who is sympathetic but warns him that he cannot risk the entire Resistance network for the sake of a few individuals.

Lucienne, a former Resistance member who is now working for the Germans, sees Jean and Marcel talking and reports back to the Nazi officer in charge of the town. The officer confronts Marcel, accusing him of being involved in the Resistance, but Marcel is able to talk his way out of it. However, he realizes that his position in Villeneuve is becoming increasingly precarious, and he starts to make plans to leave the town and join the Resistance himself.

Elsewhere, Gustave, a young boy who has been living with his grandparents since his parents were taken away, begins to act out. He is angry and confused, and he vents his frustration by stealing and vandalizing property. His grandfather, Raymond Schwartz, tries to talk to him and understand what he is going through, but Gustave is resistant. He tells his grandfather that he wishes he could be free, that he could just run away and leave everything behind.

As the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that none of the characters in Villeneuve are truly free. They are all constrained by the circumstances of the occupation, by their own fears and doubts, by the choices they have made and the ones that have been made for them. Even the Nazis, we see, are not as free as they might seem - they are bound by their own codes of conduct and their loyalty to a regime that is not as invincible as it once seemed.

The episode climaxes with a shocking event that forces the characters to confront the reality of their situation. It is a moment of both tragedy and hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of redemption.

Overall, "If I Were Free" is a powerful episode that deftly weaves together the different storylines of A French Village. It is a testament to the strength of the show's writing, as well as the skill of its actors and directors. It is a reminder that the history of World War II is not just a story of battles and heroes, but a complex and layered tale of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.