Women at War/Les Combattantes is a series that I would really like to love but the political agenda at work is really making it difficult. I understand that Women at War is made in a country that has a very left-wing cinematic industry. The actors, scriptwriters and directors are generally people that have left-wing talking points. I am not expecting a movie or tv show that represents the voting bloc that goes for Marine Le Pen. However, I do expect that the tv show have good writing and storytelling to keep my interest. There are too many of television series out there during this so-called golden age and good writing is at a premium. It is important that a series is able to gain the attention of the audience through adequate writing and great characters. Women at War/Les Combattantes is strong in the department of taking us to a small town in France in 1914 but it is utterly focused on creating narratives about the war that are very left-wing and often appeal to a certain mentality that is interested in deconstructing history and the grand narratives of nations. There is no greater deconstruction of our proud history than using it for the means of exploitation, especially Nunsploitation in the case of this drama.
I believe that these sort of ”feminist” type dramas are generally speaking interesting because they allow for us to take a look at another perspective that tends to be overlooked in many television productions. However, the old axiom proves true: there is nothing new under the sun. In France, a country notorious for its arrogant philosophers and presumption of superiority over other cultures, they must think that they have invented this sort of ”feminist” series, but they would be largely inaccurate in their conclusions.
In the 1930s and 1940s, there was a type of movie called the Woman’s movie. These were generally movies that had actors like Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford. They featured strong and independent women. They had large casts of women who took on leading roles, so this sort of narrative is hardly new in the market of televised entertainment. I have no idea why the contemporary creators always think that they are being smart, but they are not the first ones to invent the wheel, much less the idea of women-led production or film. The woman-led production is as old as film itself and trying to create these feminist productions seems like it is doing a disservice to the generations of women filmmakers who have already made strides in opening up the industry.
However, people’s perception of the past is always changing, and generations of humans have always been trying to surpass the previous generation. It is not surprising that this current generation wants to think that it is the generation that invented this sort of drama. This is just pure arrogance on part of the creators of this show. They have created a show that is pretty to look at but in terms of its ideas, it isn’t really all that new at all. In some ways, it is downright offensive to me and to anyone else who takes these television series seriously. Women at War is one of those type of series that you see alot of these days. There is always this need to have these strong female characters and the creators act like they are innovating when they are not really doing that.
What’s even more annoying is when they attempt to insert their own politics. The political is always present in a country like France, where they are protesting all the time but there is need for some equilibrium into those ideas to have some balance with countering views. In an industry like the film industry, left-wing views tend to be quite dominant and there is little room for people to voice differing opinions. This leads to environments where the creative process becomes inhabited by people who are living in a bubble and are unwilling to see the aspirations and dreams of the other side.
There is always a willingness to want to corrupt something or someone in these series. There is very little willingness to emphasize the morality of religion but instead is more interested in attacking it. There is no greater insult than how the church is handled in Women at War/Les Combattantes.
In the series, we have the perspective of four women, a prostitute, the wife of an automobile manufacturer, a nurse and a nun. The nun character, whose name is Agnes played by Julia de Boma is an interesting one, due to the fact that I was interested in seeing how the creators would try to handle her. I knew that such a show like this on Netflix is going to have subversive elements. It’s not really surprising that they would attempt to implement some elements of Nunsploitation into this show. I know that the French would probably cringe at that, but it is true.
Agnes is a devout woman and is devoted to helping the many wounded soldiers who come into her convent. Unfortunately, the series seems to be interested in turning her into the religious version of the Marguerite character, who is a prostitute in the show. The show’s creators cannot help themselves but attempt to corrupt the convent with all their crazy and perverted views about the nature of religion and faith. This is the same issue that one sees in shows that are released by Netflix. Religion must be attacked while secular concepts need to be praised. It is really annoying that they cannot keep these concepts pure and free from any subversion but of course, the show’s creators are not interested in that.
In one of the most egregious parts of the series, Agnes is trying to assist a novice named Geneviève (played by Marie Mallia). Geneviève is in a tough situation; she has been impregnated by the head priest of the convent. It is stated that the priest is manipulating Geneviève in order to get what he wants out of her in this twisted relationship. Agnes, who is going through her own tests of faith, seeks to help Geneviève through this rough patch in her life by trying to undermine the power of the obviously corrupt and hypocritical priest.
When I saw this storyline pop up, I could only roll my eyes. It was obvious that the people in charge of making this series wanted to create conflict for no reason other than to give Agnes something to do. She already violated her vows already by sleeping with a German soldier, so why not have another member of the convent also have a hypocritical view on life? It’s utterly ridiculous and should not have been put in this show.
There are reasons to criticize the Catholic church, but this is just lazy writing and honestly it seems like the writers were trying to recreate the nunsploitation movies of the 1970s. They cannot agree with the idea that some people do not want to be corrupted by the tentacles of modern capitalism; they want to ruin everything that is holy and pure. This is not to say that religious people are prefect, but it seems like the traditions of the west are being attacked for melodramatic reasons.
Geneviève being assaulted by the priest just brings up allot of cliches that are honestly really tired about the Catholic Church. Yes, there is corruption in the church, but the church seeks to accomplish a lot for its parishioners. The idea that whole church structure is corrupt and not worth any value is something that this show seems to be promoting.
Besides, what is the point of this in a show about World War I? I get they want to talk about the women’s experience, but this is really egregious and lacking in depth and quality. Honestly, I was more interested in the battles that were being shown on Women at War than anything to do with the women characters.
Geneviève could have been a great opportunity to allow Agnes to bond with another member of convent over the price of faith during a time of war. But instead, we get a Nunsploitation tv episode that not only insults the Catholic church but distracts the attention of the viewer from the main point of the story, which is to tell the story of four women during World War I.
Honestly, if I was running the show I would rather them focus on Agnes’ experience in a genuine way. No sleeping with a German soldier. No discovery that the priest running the convent is a corrupt man. Just genuine painting of faith during war.
I guess I am asking too much of a series such as this. The people who are making it are too left-wing for my own tastes.
Overall, this subplot has caused me to sour on the series due to the fact that it seems hamfisted and obvious. These days, it is common to see religion be attacked in the west. The show’s creators are pulling their punches obviously when it comes to Islam but are fully and willing to criticize Christianity when it suits them. That is very disappointing, and I wish that there would have been a more nuanced approach to depicting religion during such a gigantic struggle like World War I. I hope that future series are able to avoid this issue and give us something truly textured and very unique. I really getting tired of the all the religious bashing these days. Hopefully there are some new series on Netflix that is willing to be respectful of religion and not just use it to serve some melodrama for the audience.
Byzantine-Empire.com 