L’ORDRE ET LA MORALE (REBELLION)

France, 2011, 136 minutes, Colour.
Mathieu Kassovitz, Iabe Lapacas, Alexandre Steiger, Daniel Martin, Philippe Torreton, Sylvie Testud.
Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz.

A film of more than passing interest for audiences in this part of the world. The setting is an uprising in New Caledonia in 1988, and the harsh putting down of the action (not a rebellion) by the French military, at the time of the presidential elections, the choice between Francois Mitterand and Jacques Chirac.

The title Rebellion is more of a commercial choice than an indication of what takes place. Later in the film, a French minister visiting Noumea talks about authorities having to take drastic action, at the expense of lives, to keep order and morality. Ethical spin. The French title has more depth.

Actor Mathieu Kassovitz wrote the screenplay, adapting a work of fiction based on fact by the character he plays, Philippe Legorjus,from GIGN, the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, who had military and commando training but who also worked as a mediator in hostage situations. At little notice, he and his team are ordered to the island of Ouvea in New Caledonia because of a group of locals attacking a police station and killing four gendarmes. They have also taken hostages to a cave, which they also do to Legorjus and a group of his men.

What might have been a small action to rescue the hostages or which might have been a more straightforward negotiation for their release becomes a big operation with military, helicopters, a flamethrower – and the deaths of the leader and many of the men. We see the efforts of Legorjus in searching for the first hostages, dealing with the military and the local police and finding himself something of a pawn in the hands of the general and officers in Noumea and then of the politicking of the candidates for the presidency (using an excerpt of a TV debate between the two contenders and their attitudes towards terrorism). He is left ‘hung out to dry’ and then commanded to obey military orders whether he agreed with them or not.

These aspects of the film make sobering viewing, the remoteness of policy and action decision-makers from the actual events and the people involved. ‘It is better for some men to die for the sake of the country.’ Distractions arise during the film as we think of the last decade in Afghanistan and behaviour of US military as well as the international discussions about the war and NATO and other presence.

It requires some attention to follow the details of the group that had made the initial attack and their earnest anti-colonialism and demands for autonomy and freedom, but it is made clear what they mean as we watch the French in action, even though New Caledonia is part of France (with a referendum on this scheduled for 2014). Ethnic and racial bigotry are also evident. At the same time, the ‘official’ movement for independence distances itself from this uprising – but the leader, Jean-Marie? Tjibaou, was assassinated a year later (and his memory is now well preserved in the museum in Noumea). We see sympathetic locals trying to mediate as well as a French magistrate who works with Legorjus.

The final part of the film shows us the attack on the cave, immersing the audience in the experience of crawling through the jungle and being under fire. Ultimately, Legorjus is both disillusioned by what has happened and the thwarting of his efforts, agitated by the deaths (especially shootings after the capture of the locals), yet still having to stand by his military oaths of obedience and loyalty.

1. The French title? Serious? Moral issues? Rebellion for a more commercial advertising campaign? The impact for world audiences? For French-speaking audiences? The perspective on New Caledonia?

2. French audiences and their understanding of such regions as New Caledonia? The world perspective on France’s colonial history? Current politics and New Caledonia being part of France? The impact for the Pacific?

3. The 1980s, the remnants of colonial attitudes, arrogance and contempt on the part of the French, issues of freedom for the Kanaks? French occupation? Racism?

4. France in 1988, the political climate, the presidential elections, Jacques Chirac and Francois Mitterand? Their histories, stances, attitudes towards such places as New Caledonia? The issue of Metropol? New Caledonia and the Kanaks, freedom movements, uprisings? Official attitudes? The mining of nickel and its importance? The role of the military? The police?

5. The work of Mathier Kassovitz, as director, writer, actor? His investment in this film?

6. The situation in New Caledonia, the island off the mainland? Alphonse, his men, their motivation? Judgment on them? The killings of the police? The way the matter was reported?

7. The French response, the authorities, the GIGN? The special squad, the men, the leadership of Legorjus? His integrity? The range of men? The long trip? The information? The spirit of the mission?

8. Philippe Legorgus, the initial images, the deaths of the Kanaks, his memories? The film as a memoir? His behaviour, stances, moral issues? Order and morality?

9. The authorities in New Caledonia, their attitudes to the GIGN, the local police, the takeover of the military, the role of the generals, their hawkish attitudes? The arrival of the minister, his attitudes? In league with the president?

10. The mission to search and locate hostages, in the south, the squad, the local help from particular Kanaks?

11. Military jealousy, the expedition to the north, Legorjus and his squad? Their being taken? In the cave? Legorgus and his discussions with Alphonse? Alphonse’s attitudes, the admission of the killing of the police? The move for freedom?

12. Letting go Legorjus, his role as negotiator, the need for time, the role of the magistrate? The contacts, visiting Alphonse, the promises, justice issues?

13. Legorjus and his background, the scenes with his wife, the phone calls, her support?

14. Legorjus and Christian Prouteau, the phone calls, the contact with Paris, the information from the president? Legorjus finally being cut loose?

15. The television debate between Chirac and Mitterand? Their declarations? Policies? The aftermath?

16. The generals, wanting to go in and attack the cave, the plan, the helicopters, the flamethrower?

17. Legorjus and the promises he made to Alphonse, the general making demands through military orders, his breaking some of the commands? His finally going in on the mission?

18. The attack, crawling through the jungle, the role of the helicopters, the flamethrower? The effect on the French?

19. The Kanaks, the attack, the cave, their fighting back, deaths? Alphonse and his being taken? The soldiers’ brutal behaviour, the death of Alphonse and the reports that he was murdered?

20. 1988 and the aftermath, the information about New Caledonia, the uprisings, the independence movements? New Caledonia still remaining a part of France? The New Caledonians as French citizens? The issue of nickel? The later murder of the freedom movement official? Plans for a referendum in 2014?

21. Audiences learning from past experience? 21st century occupations of particular lands – especially in the Middle East? The reality of violence, atrocities, colonial behaviour, not winning hearts and minds?