Long, profound and notorious documentary about the German occupation of France during World War Two, comprising interviews and archive material. Marcel Ophuls examines aspects that are very painful in France, such as the collaboration with the Nazis of the Vichy regime and just how few people actually worked with the resistance. The breadth of his subject made Ophuls decide to concentrate on one place, the provincial town of Clermont-Ferrand. He chose this town because it was close to Vichy and because its hinterland, the Auvergne, was a resistance stronghold. In addition, important trials were held near Clermont-Ferrand. In this way, Ophuls was able to examine all the aspects and questions that arise surrounding the resistance, using the history of one place.
