"Western Front 1914-1918 In 5 reels." "This film is dedicated to the mothers, to those whose sons have fallen on the sad plains of Flanders, there where the countless wooden crosses are planted..." "the crosses of the Yser." "Produced by Gaston Schoukens and Paul Flon." "Photography Bell and Nicolas Assistant Ed." "Breville" "Roles: the old mother - the women the old father - the eldest son the youngest son - the girl" "In a small town in the north of France." ""So, mama, will all be ready in time?"" ""Don't worry, all will be ready."" ""I'm not worried, I just want to know."" ""Is there anything else to do, Mrs.?"" ""Almost nothing, Brigitte, only the flowers need to be placed."" ""Now that everything is ready, I will call them."" ""Suzette!"" ""Come all in, the table is ready."" ""Papa!" "Mama!"" ""Uncle John!"" ""My dear children." "It's for mama and me a great happiness, today, to find our children back around us."" ""My dear Peter, my dear Lucy, it's five years ago today that you were united."" ""I hope it'll be granted to me to attend this anniversary many more times..." "We harbour the best wishes for your joint happiness..." "And no less for our dear little Suzette."" ""It's the alarm bell!"" ""Mobilisation!"" "Army and Navy" " Order for general mobilisation." "Army and Navy" " Order for general mobilisation." ""Finally we will be able to show them, that we are French."" "The whole of France prepared to defend itself with truly admirable enthusiasm and unity." "A waving flag, a vibrating Marseillaise and our love then knows only the fatherland." ""Poor little ones, for them war is but a flag swashing in the wind, and the blaring of the clarions but for me, who'se seen 1870, war is the disruption of the entire life," "the destruction of cities, children with hunger and mothers who cry."" "On all the roads of France the soldiers go to the border." ""Come on, old man, a glass of wine." "To sing well you must drink well."" ""I thank you, I'm not thirsty right now." ""How, you're not thirsty?" "But you've just yelled to burst the throat."" "And during that time, to replace the men duty had called... the franciscan sisters gather the grain harvest to ensure the bread that the land will need tomorrow." "Their delicate hands, unsuited to that kind of work, with a soic endurance wield the heavy scythe of the mowers." "Under the grape fire." "After two months of excessive fatigue, two months of nights without rest and fights without end... the soldiers, missing everything, hold on to the Yser in despair." "In the basement of a ruined house, a few men have been placed, on outpost." ""Did you notice that "William" is sending them to us like pidgeons, this morning?" ""Let's use that moment of calming to relieve the comrades down by the water."" ""No, thanks, I'm too tired."" ""Talk of bombardment!" "Eleven dead, some sixty wounded and that without an attack."" ""I've seen near the white farm a shell explode close to one of our men Sadly I couldn't come to his aid and I don't know who it is." ""My dear brother, I assure you that I made it okay."" ""That big Firmin, who was only a few steps away from me, has had his belly cut open this morning by a piece of shell"" ""That brave Lambert too, was killed close to the white farm."" ""Dear god!" "How terrible is the war!"" ""Rest a bit, my good man, I..." "I'm going to write."" "Hotel In bed they sleep." ""Outpost number five here."" ""Understood!" "In half an hour."" ""Bouchard!"" ""You're the only one who hasn't been on guard; so it's up to you to take the mission."" ""That's how I think about it too, besides look at the boys, they're all exhausted."" ""On the other bank stands the house of the ferryman."" ""it's about exploding it."" ""In the basement near an old suitcase is a mine that we laid there when we were still on the other side of the water."" ""In half an hour it'll be dark enough and old Achilles will be there with his little boat..."" ""...with the help of which you can cross the Yser."" ""Understood!" "In half an hour the house of the ferryman will blow!"" ""You see down there that cart, you must pass it on the left."" ""Corporal, I have still 15 minutes;" "I'm going to finish the letter I was writing to my wife."" ""My poor John, why did you go in my place?"" ""That our little Suzette would not lose her father."" ""We must return down there immediately." "An effort, Jean, I'll help you..." "Courage..."" "On the plains of Flanders, under the rattle of the machine guns, and the booming of the canons..." "The marine artillery of admiral Ronarc'h have come to reinforce the handful of Belgians who cling desperately to their native ground." ""Bayonets on the rifles!"" ""Mother."" "In a hospital at St. Georges." ""I'd like to write."" ""Don't think about it!" "You forget, that the major has perscribed the biggest possible rest."" ""You're unwise, you will worsen the fever."" ""I beg you, a few words."" ""So be it, but no more than two minutes."" ""Poor chap..." "It would be a miracle if he pulled through."" ""Down there."" ""Madam, here are two letters, that were just delivered."" ""Lucy, this one is for you."" "...so that Jean and I are since five days in an outpost at the banks of the Yser." "Even though now and then we have to face terrible bombardments, it's going as well as it can." "At the moment that I write you, Jean is here with me and charges me to tell you that he embraces you all." "My dear parents, I write to you from St. Georges where I was brought two days ago because of an injury." "Do not worry yourself:" "The nurse assures me this morning that I'll be recovered in a fortnight." "Hope to see you soon and embrace little Suzette for me." "Your affectionate son Jean." ""My poor little one."" ""Why worry yourself mama, if he writes, that it isn't serious."" ""I've got a premonition that he isn't telling the whole truth."" ""Papa, he suffers!" "Our little one calls for his mother perhaps."" ""I beg you, papa, I want to see him;" "I want to see my Jean again."" ""Say, papa, Saint Georges is not so far, let us go there!"" "For hours and hours the poor mother, exhausted from fatigue, found in the love for her son the power to continue the bitter Calvary road." ""I am very tired papa, but that is nothing, I am so happy, for soon I will be near to him."" ""Courage, mama, we will soon be there!"" ""Could you allow us on your cart, we're going to Saint Georges."" ""That is not possible, madamette, and besides, it's forbidden!"" ""I'm an old mother who goes to see her son in the hospital..." "Don't you have a mother as well?"" ""I don't go until Saint Georges, but climb on anyway, that will save you a few kilometers anyway."" ""How glad he will be, our little one, to see us."" "Having arrived near Saint Georges..." ""Follow this road, it's straight ahead."" ""Poor mother who won't see her son again!"" "A dreadful premonition oppressed both poor seniors and they continued their way without daring to communicate each other their thoughts." ""I would lile to see my son, sir."" ""But there are a lot of sons here, madam." "What is your name?"" ""Bouchard."" ""Here is a mother who would like to see her son, soldier Bouchard."" ""Will you follow me, I will bring you to him."" ""So... he lives, doesn't he?"" ""Why yes, madam, he lives..." "although his injury is serious."" ""Pierre!"" ""So it's you, my Pierre?"" ""But... then... your brother Jean... where is he?" ""Jean died of his injuries two days ago and is being buried now, mother, but he was a hero." ""How cruel is the war." "Thus thousands of victims from families have fallen and for what.""