A landmark in the development of documentary form, The Sorrow and the Pity is a prismatic exploration of life under occupation. Using a series of interlinked filmmaking strategies - including the judicious arrangement of speakers, montage associations with existing film footage, inventive framing, and evocative mise-en-scène - the perspectives of political luminaries are juxtaposed with those of shopkeepers. The results are often surprising and belie easy judgment, which is what makes this holistic portrait of French society between 1939 and 1945 so uniquely compelling. English subtitles available.