Guernica (1950/I)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Directors:

Robert Hessens
Alain Resnais

Writer:

Paul Éluard (poem)

Release Date:

8 October 1971 (Finland)

Genre:

Short

Plot:

On April 26 1937 the small Basque town of Guernica was bombed without warning by the German aviation...

Cast

María Casares	...	Récitante / Narrator (voice) (as María Casarès)
Jacques Pruvost	...	Récitant / Narrator (voice)

Directed by
Robert Hessens
Alain Resnais

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Paul Éluard		poem

Produced by
Pierre Braunberger	....	producer

Original Music by
Guy Bernard

Cinematography by
Henry Ferrand

Film Editing by
Alain Resnais

Production Management
Claude Hauser	....	production manager
S. Lachin	....	unit manager

Sound Department
Pierre-Louis Calvet	....	sound

Special Effects by
Henry Ferrand	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
André Dumaître	....	camera operator
W. Novik	....	camera operator

Music Department
Marc Vaubourgoin	....	conductor

Production Companies

• Panthéon Productions

Distributors

• Les Films de la Pléiade (1950) (France) (theatrical)
• Ripley's Home Video (2007) (Italy) (DVD) (with Hiroshima mon amour)

Also Known As:

Guernica (Greece) [el]

Runtime:

USA:13 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

Panthéon Productions

Before Hiroshima and Marienbad, there was Guernica

Criterion DVD "The Mystery of Picasso" (1956) also includes "Guernica", a short documentary directed in 1950 by Alain Resnais before any of his feature films. Picasso's "Guernica" is one of the most famous paintings of the 20th Century which was created by the artist in response to bombing and destroying the ancient Basque town of Guernica by German aviation on April 27 1937 during Spanish Civil War. The painting is a passionate protest against war as well as the fascinating work of art. Resnains' 13 minutes short film is based on paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Pablo Picasso from 1902 until 1949 including "Guernica" and is set against the ode written by French lyrical poet Paul Éluard and recited by Jacques Pruvost and María Casarès. In his early short film, Resnais already uses his famous jump cuts and cross-fades. "Guernica" is a valuable feature which goes well together with the marvelous "The Mystery of Picasso" and adds to understanding one of the most prolific and mysterious Artists of the last century.