Watched it again for the umpteenth time but I haven’t seen it for many years.
However, a question- what was the German girl singing at the end supposed to achieve?
I think it serves more than one purpose:
It’s a contrasting juxtaposition to the start of the movie when we listen to “La Marseillaise”. The French anthem is played in a way that magnifies its martial tone and indicates the willingness, even eagerness, to go to war.
The scene itself is also in more than one way a miniature of the movie and simultaneously its counterpoint; it’s also a wrap-up of Dax’ character and the effects of war on its participants and everyone else caught in it.
It’s an incredibly humane scene that offers as much hope as despair; the raucous and aroused crowd first drowns out the timid voice singing of love during war, but the sentiment of the well-known song and the girl’s sincerity gets to them and they start to listen respectfully and finally hum along.
The French soldiers and the German girl share a moment of understanding beyond national or cultural or even language barriers: they allow themselves to express for a little moment their fears and longings and they are the same.
But when we go outdoors to the intently listening Dax, we realize that the moment will soon be gone, the war isn’t done with them yet. The fragile voice is drown out by military music, the moment of shared humanity was not more than an interlude.
Pretty good summation.
To add to that. . . You have the crowd hootin’ and hollerin’ at the terrified little German girl, who is in fear of her safety, if not her life. Also notice that the last time you see her onscreen, she gives a quick little smile, as she realizes that she’s probably not going to be gang-raped by dozens of horny soldiers after all.
Also notice that Jerry Hausner is playing. . . Jerry Hausner.