A Matter of Resistance 1966

On the Normandy coast in May 1944, Jérôme leads a quiet life in his crumbling château with his widowed mother Charlotte and his beautiful young wife Marie, daughter of Dimanche, a local farmer. She dreams of Paris and a glamorous life beyond the countryside. A stranger named Julien circles the estate, captivating Marie as a possible escape from the monotony of rustic life and marriage. In truth, he is a Free French officer liaising with Dimanche, who heads the local Resistance, to survey German fortifications ahead of the imminent Allied landings. On the cliff outside the château, a massive German naval gun sits in an impregnable blockhouse, and Julien deduces it must be taken from behind by parachutists.

When German reinforcements arrive, their commander Klopstock is billeted with the family and immediately falls for Marie. Julien, equally in love, is introduced to him as her brother. When Klopstock catches them kissing after dinner, they knock him out with a billiard cue and flee. Klopstock locks Jérôme and the mother in the cellar under guard and sets off with the rest of his men to capture the fugitives. Dimanche arrives at the château and is locked up as well.

It is the mild Jérôme who escapes from the cellar, retrieves a hidden shotgun, and locks up the guards. Dimanche explains that American paratroops are being dropped that night and must be guided to the back of the blockhouse, but Jérôme notes that the landing zone is covered with stakes. The trio works to remove the stakes as Allied aircraft mass overhead. They lead the Americans to the blockhouse, but once inside, a powerful searchlight sweeps the perimeter and forces a quick retreat. Jérôme, still dressed for dinner, engages the Germans in awkward conversation to buy time before he throws a grenade and knocks out the light. The Americans then storm the place, and Marie finds her way back to Jérôme, reuniting the couple.

Meanwhile, Julien, who sacrificed duty for a pretty face, faces disciplinary proceedings. Shells from Allied ships pound the château, and Jérôme and Marie, now members of the Resistance, march into Paris with the liberators.

The film arrived soon after winning the Louis-Delluc Prize and was shown exclusively in select theaters for an entire year.