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France 2 Debuts Immersive WWII Documentary with Bold Visual Techniques

The four-part series '1939-1945 – Et le monde bascule' revisits the global scope and atrocities of World War II, sparking discussions on historical accuracy and cinematic style.

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Overview

  • Directed by Mickaël Gamrasni and co-written with historian Olivier Wieviorka, the series employs colorization, 3D animation, and sonorization to enhance archival footage.
  • The documentary offers a global perspective on World War II, moving across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa to explore the conflict's military, political, and social dimensions.
  • It graphically depicts the war's violence, including the Shoah and civilian casualties, while integrating modern techniques like flashforwards to connect past events to their lasting impacts.
  • The series builds on the aesthetic lineage of the controversial 'Apocalypse' documentaries, raising concerns about the 'blockbusterisation' of historical material.
  • Critics are divided over the balance between engaging storytelling and the ethical implications of altering archival footage for cinematic effect.