A French Village

Seasons

2009

8.5

TV-14

Traces the experiences of various residents of a fictional small village just inside the occupation zone during WWII. Deals with issues including collaboration, the Resistance, the fate of French Jews, and war profiteering.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Le débarquement

Amid rumors of approaching German troops, a French town goes about its normal business. Without warning, bombing raids start, and tanks begin rolling through town.

S1 • E2

Chaos

Chaos and disease spread as refugees crowd into the village church, and the Germans begin imposing harsh rules.

S1 • E3

Passer la ligne

The local police and acting mayor are expected to help the Germans enforce their rules, but they can't control everyone.

S1 • E4

Sur la terre comme au ciel

An escaped French soldier seeks medical help for an injured English pilot who was shot down by the Germans.

S1 • E5

Marchés noirs

7 November 1940. During a film showing, the audience takes advantage of the darkness to boo the handshake between Pétain and Hitler. The French police are called in to find the guilty party.

S1 • E6

Coup de froid

11 November 1940. With the help of Suzanne, the head of the post office, Marcel launches a campaign to distribute Communist leaflets. Very quickly, Jean is on to them.

S1 • E7

The Lottery

January 10, 1941. De Kervern and Natacha--the cop and the prostitute--join forces to send coded messages for the London "network." Marie is recruited as courier. Gustave tells Marchetti he never saw the postwoman, leading to her arrest.

S1 • E8

Commitment

February 5, 1941. Marchetti makes a career-ruining error, thereby giving the Germans leverage over him. They demand he find the Essart courier. De Kervern instructs Marie how to pick up messages and where to take them. Marcel is released.

S1 • E9

The Lesson

Secrets, clandestine meetings, and the consequences of sentimentality. An opportunity for Jean puts others in peril.

S1 • E10

Your Name is a little Jewish

Mar. 4, 1941. "Schwartz dirty Jew" appears on the sawmill wall. Raymond is not Jewish but loses customers. Jeanine fires Sarah for alleged theft. Henri and Marie arrange for Lorrain to lead a Jewish refugee family across to the south.

S1 • E11

Risk of Death

Mar. 10, 1941. Müller learns Lorrain's name. Henri arranges for Natacha to spy at German HQ but needs Raymond's signature to get her in. Marie copies it from his pass during a tryst. Natacha does the mission but fears she made an error.

S1 • E12

Deathblow

Mar. 11, 1941. Lorrain is mad with rage. Daniel devises an equitable food supply plan. Müller is on to Natacha and Henri. Realizing it, they flee to the South Zone, then hide in an abandoned house with Marie and tied-up Lorrain.