After various leftist parties forged an alliance to fend off the fascist tide embodied by Mussolini´s Italy and Hitler´s Germany, which threatened peace and democracy on the continent, several European countries concurrently adopted a Popular Front political strategy. This led to an unprecedented mobilization of the masses, labor unions, and intellectuals. In France, Austria, Spain, Belgium and Greece the antifascist battle became a top priority. Comprised of high quality archive footage from all over Europe, and never-before-heard audio recordings, this film retraces the birth and strategy of Europe´s Popular Fronts from 1929 to 1939.

Note about the author: Laurence Jourdan is the author and producer of several historical documentaries, some of which have received international awards. Among recent productions are Rape, A war crime in Bosnia (FIPA selection 2006), Armenian genocide, The forgotten people of the Ho-Chi-Minh road (Jury´s special award, FIGRA 2005), Chernobyl: lies or State negligence.

A film by Laurence Jourdan
Chief editor: Francesca Melani
Original score: Jean-Louis Valéro
Voices: Marie-Christine Letort & Benoît Ferreux
Documentalist: Véronique Lambert de Guise

A Compagnie des Phares et Balises & ARTE France coproduction
With the participation of TSR and RTBF
With the support of the Centre National du cinéma et de l’image animée, as well as PROCIREP – Société des Producteurs and ANGOA-AGICOA

National Broadcaster : ARTE France

International Sales :
RTBF Belgium
RTS Switzerland
RSI Italian Swiss
Histoire France
TV3 Catalunya
Public Sénat France
DR TV Denmark
Slovak TV Television
Red Media Group Russia
RTVS Slovakia
Spiegel TV Germany
LCP France
Rai 3 Italia

© ARTE France – Compagnie des Phares et Balises – France 2006