"Heralded as one of the most important features of the 20th century, Renoir has created a picture that depicts the futility of war greater so than perhaps any other filmmaker has ever managed..."

It may be 75 years since the release of Jean Renoir's La Grande Illusion, but the themes explored within the Oscar nominated picture remain as relevant today as they have ever done.

Preparing for its re-release, La Grande Illusion tells the story of a hapless group of French soldiers, being help captive at a German prisoner of war camp, amidst the horrors of World War One. Amongst the prisoners are friends Maréchal (Jean Gabin) and the aristocratic Boeldieu (Pierre Fresnay), as well the Jewish Rosenthal (Marcel Dalio) - the latter desperate to escape and return to his inherited wealth and home comforts.

The group are always searching for a way to escape their camp, before being transferred to a less friendly and therefore more impenetrable prison, led by Captain von Rauffenstein - played by the reputable Austrian director Erich von Stroheim. Despite the unity amongst the friends whilst preparing for their escape, social politics take hold, as the difference in class and status becomes an issue between the group.

Heralded as one of the most important features of the 20th century, Renoir has created a picture that depicts the futility of war greater so than perhaps any other filmmaker has ever managed. We look at the group of soldiers as human beings: just a few ordinary men who have unwillingly surrendered their ‘real’ lives to the repugnance of war, yet their story is representative of any man caught up in such a plight - deeming the story timeless. It manages to project an anti-war message more forcefully than any amount of films graphically depicting battles and bloodshed – with a simple mix of humanity and irony, the constant reminder that people on all sides have their own backstories, and that ultimately war achieves nothing.

Renoir makes such a point known by investigating the social classes of the prisoners, bringing humility and personality to each character individually, with the exploration of the friendship between Maréchal and Boeldieu reflective of this, and again in the relationship formed by aristocrats Boeldieu and von Rauffenstein who, despite fighting on opposite sides, have a natural empathy borne from their upper class backgrounds.

The performances are astounding by the protagonists, picking up on the individuality and idiosyncrasies of the roles, furthering the sentiment that these are merely human beings thrown reluctantly into an extraordinary situation. There is ruefulness in von Rauffenstein, encapsulated perfectly by von Stroheim, who depicts a  tragic character - and one that is vital to the plot as we even find ourselves sympathising with the so-called enemy.

Yet despite such harrowing and honest themes explored, the film manages to be full of the charm and endearment for which French cinema is renowned, with tongue-in-cheek and quite whimsical scenes particularly in the first war camp, where the dialogue and scenarios the prisoners become involved in are arbitrary and carefree, and as a result almost feel like a precursor to British comedy Blackadder. This poignancy is perfectly illustrated in the scene where the inmates are putting on a show, complete with drag acts, songs and dance. Their joy is heightened by the announcement that France has won a vital battle over Germany, and the performers and audience alike burst spontaneously into a heartfelt rendition of La Marseillaise – a spine-tingling moment, perfectly timed.

It is simply a phenomenal piece of filmmaking, and the fact that it's now celebrating three quarters of a century is testament to this beautifully arranged and thought-provoking picture that Renoir created. The word masterpiece is used far too commonly when referring to film, but La Grande Illusion is worthy of such a tag-line, as a film that remains as culturally and cinematically important now as it always has been. In short - you must go and see this film on the big-screen when you get the chance, I promise you won't regret it.