Collage: helenoppenheim.com
I posted this in 2014. “J’Accuse” the Roman Polanski movie I blogged on way back then is showing at the Venice Film Festival this year, in 2019. We all know the controversial director makes good award-winning movies, so read on:
As I was enthralled reading the spy thriller book “An Officer and Spy” by Robert Harris, I kept thinking, there’s a good movie here. After I finished, I discovered Roman Polanski announced he is going to direct “D” a movie based on the Alfred Dreyfus Affair and the book, to begin shooting at the end of the year. For those who don’t know, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer on the general staff in the French Army was wrongly accused and imprisoned in 1895 of being a spy. This was a sensational 12-year scandal during a time of anti-Semitism in France. As casting is underway, it’s interesting to imagine who will play whom in what is sure to be a very special movie. Any ideas? The fashion interest should come with the uniforms, and the words “J’Accuse.”
Here are some of the characters. Top left to right: Young Captain Alfred Dreyfus, Alfred Dreyfus, Colonel Georges Picquart, the courageous hero and whistleblower without whom Dreyfus may have languished forever on Devil’s Island under appalling circumstances … Lucie Dreyfus, faithful wife … Middle row: Public Degradation of Dreyfus when he is stripped of his badges, buttons and his sword is snapped … Dreyfus at his last trial, an old man at 39 after 4 years in prison … “J’Accuse” Emile Zola’s 1898 open letter addressed to the President, a celebrated exposé, as published in L’Aurore … Influential writer, Emile Zola, who had to flee to England for his letter condemning a major injustice … The Dreyfus family … Bottom row: Just 3 of the disgraceful French Army officers involved: The main accuser, Major Armand Mercier du Paty de Clam … Major Hubert-Joseph Henry … Major Ferdinand Esterhazy, the real culprit … The jacket cover of the book “An Officer and Spy” … The author Robert Harris … Roman Polanski who will direct the movie “D”. Watch out for the movie, probably in 2015. To read the book, click here