Le Corbeau (1943)

 Henri-Georges Clouzot's "Le Corbeau"

Henri-Georges Clouzot got into a lot of trouble when he released "Le Corbeau" in 1943. One would think that because France was under Nazi occupation in 1943 that the Nazis would be the only ones who would not approve of the film. In fact, the film was condemned by all: the right-wing Vichy regime, the left-wing Resistance press, and the Catholic Church. In fact, even after France was liberated from the Nazi occupation, the film continued to be suppressed up until 1969. Why did this film cause so many people to be upset?

The film takes place in a small French village where a mysterious writer, known only as 'Le Corbeau (The Raven),' is distributing poison-pen letters containing revelations of all of the townsfolks' misdeeds. The attention 'The Raven' pays most towards is a town doctor, Remy Germain, of practicing abortions. Many other secrets are revealed, like infidelity and other scandals. The town goes into a paranoid state as they begin to question who 'The Raven' is. Things get even more hectic after one hospital patient commits suicide after receiving a letter. The story begins to twist and turn as suspects arise, fingers are pointed, arrests are made, and eventually a messy and tragic resolution takes shape. 

"Le Corbeau" was produced by a German production company at the time, Continental Films. Because of this, many of the French believed the film was vilifying them, believing the film was a statement on French corruption by a German (and thereby Nazi)-financed production company. It was this reason the film was disliked by French audiences and Clouzot was banned from directing in France for life. This ban was lifted, however, after protests in 1947. 

My interpretation, as well as the interpretation of many film scholars who have reappraised the film, is that the film is far more critical of the Nazi occupation on France. In the midst of this small French town is a mysterious Big Brother-esque figure who is acting as a moral judge to the people, forcing them into states of paranoia and fear. This paranoia and fear leads to finger-pointing and self-policing. This theme lies far more with the condemnation of the Nazi occupation than anything else.

At the heart of this film lies its true philosophy: that there is no such thing as a 'good' person or a 'bad person' inherently. Everyone has done actions that others would consider morally reprehensible and therefore, the moral policy of 'The Raven' could target literally anyone. That is the true nature of power and leverage over citizens. When there is a 'Big Brother' or 'moral police,' then every citizen could be the target of political or social suppression and condemnation. Our protagonist hero is an abortionist and an atheist. His love interest is a (old-fashioned term used in the film) 'slut,' her selfless caregiver of a sister is unfaithful to her husband, and the political leaders of the town all have secret scandals. No person is morally clean, which can be exploited and manipulated by oppressive authorities. 

It is for this very reason the film was hated by all 'groups:' the right-wing, the left-wing, and the church. Because the notion that every person is morally grey, that inherently attacks the seeming 'moral superiority' of these groups. This is why the film was suppressed until 1969 and why the film was so condemned at the time it was released. 

Thankfully, the film has since been reappraised and has been granted an overwhelmingly positive response from film scholars and the film community. "Le Corbeau" was a radical and bold statement from Henri-Georges Clouzot, directed at the Nazis along with other suppressive forces everywhere. The decision to make the film cost Clouzot credibility and even work for a short period. But his boldness and the support from those who understood the contemporary Salem allegory gained him credibility once again. He went on to make incredible films in the 1950s and is regarded today as one of France's greatest twentieth century filmmakers.