Line of Demarcation

The story unfolds during the German occupation of France in the early 1940s. Rural communities become stages for resistance, with airmen escaping, networks forming, and German searches intensifying. The period is defined by tension between collaboration and resistance, and by acts of courage in the face of repression.

A small village in the Jura region sits along the Loue River, which marks the line of demarcation between the occupied zone and the free zone. The area features a chateau turned German command center and a nearby hunting lodge, around which daily life under Nazi oversight unfolds. The river crossing becomes a focal point for escapes, smuggling, and clandestine activity.

🛡️ Resistance

Residents, aristocrats, priests, and clandestine networks band together to aid the Allies and undermine the occupiers. Spies are sheltered, routes are hidden, and information is transmitted to London. The film centers on small, coordinated acts of defiance that sustain hope amid occupation.

🕯️ Sacrifice

The characters face brutal choices that put their lives at risk for others. The doctor’s unwavering resolve and the final acts of defense against the Gestapo illustrate the high price of resistance. Personal losses underscore the cost of war for ordinary people.

🗺️ Demarcation

The literal line drawn by the Loue River embodies a political boundary that shapes trust, movement, and danger. Crossing, aiding, and hiding under the border’s gaze creates constant tension and drives the plot forward. The setting makes every decision a test of loyalty and courage.