THE FLEMISH FARM
UK, 1943, 82 minutes, Black-and-white.
Clive Brook, Clifford Evans, Jane Baxter, Phillip Friend, Brefni O' Rorke, Wylie Watson, Ronald Squire, Mary Jerrold.
Directed by Jeffrey Dell.
A major war effort for the British was to make films which would not only entertain audiences but stir them with patriotism and concern for troops, the action of the war. This was shown in the British film, Their Finest, showing the making of a film about Dunkirk.
During the 1950s there were many films about the war, re-creating all kinds of war action, prisoner of war camps, espionage. Later there were some more epic adventures including The Great Escape and The Eagle has Landed. In the 21st-century there are a number of films about Churchill and his war activities and Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.
This film is part of this pattern, focusing on the experience of the Belgians, the German invasion, the burying of the flag, a quest to recover the flag and the heroism of the soldier in doing so, going to the Flemish farm, digging up the flag with the widow of his friend killed in action, the presence of the Germans, a narrow escape.
The film is to be seen in the light of the war effort in the cinema and in the light of the outcome of the war which was so uncertain the time of the film is making.
1. The film made in 1942, the early years of World War II, the experience of Hitler’s invasion of Belgium, the occupation, patriotism and resistance, sabotage and the killing of hostages? The propaganda film for 1943 and the uncertainties of war and its outcome?
2. The Belgian settings, the town, resistance headquarters, farms in the countryside? England, war offices? The musical score – by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and his reputation?
3. Black-and-white photography, the atmosphere of the times, tensions in Belgium, Post Battle of Britain England?
4. The situation in Belgium, the occupation, the officer commanding and the removal of the aircraft, their being bombed and destroyed? The personnel and their having to go to England? The local leader, his Jewish background, coordinating efforts, helping with travel permits? The murder of a local supporter? His decision to sacrifice himself so that others would not be killed?
5. The situation at the headquarters, Duclos and his position, the burying of the flag at sea, the absence of Matagne? Duclos being critical? Assuming the worst – Montagne’s absence with the woman, their later encounter, Montagne’s explanation, his wife, and the separate burial place for the flag at the farm? Their reconciliation, the plan to recover the flag? The news of Mantagne’s death?
6. Duclos and his return to Belgium, his disguise, help locally, the decision to get the flag? The dangers? His disguise, documents, getting through the lines? The encounter with Mantagne’s news wife, her anger at the news of his death? The later changing? The old man at the farm, Duclos helping him with the engine? The cover?
7. Out on the farm, the digging up of the flag, the Germans, the wife explaining that it was the chasing of a cow, Duclos using the same cover?
8. The visit to Brussels, his mother coming to meet him, their talking on the park bench? The pathos?
9. The wife transporting Duclos to the railway station, the search, the flag underneath the baby?
10. The continued dangers, German searches, 600 km away from Belgium, the man helping him to get across the line, the dog with the flag being shot, Duclos going back, his being shot at, reaching for the dog, recovering the flag? Getting back to England?
11. Patriotism, the importance of the flag, the symbol? The final parade, the British congratulations – and the humorous touch with the official saying that Duclos must have been an ordinary citizen and then recognising who he was?
12. Seeing this film in the retrospect of the experience and history of World War II?
