On 3 October, the 75^th anniversary reissue of Marcel Carné’s classic Le Jour se lève hits cinemas in the UK and Ireland.

Gloriously restored in 4K digital by the Independent Cinema Office (ICO), Jean Gabin (La Grande Illusion, Le Quai des brumes) stars as the working-class François who has committed a terrible crime. Holed up in a claustrophobic flat, over the course of a long night he reflects on the oppressive circumstances of his act.

Earlier this year we published Ben McCann’s film guide to Le Jour se lève (1939), as part of our Ciné-Files series. Lively and perceptive, Ben’s book traces the evolution of the film, revealing a work that deeply divided critics at a time of national crisis. Ben also caught up with the ICO explaining why Le Jour se lève retains such a singular appeal, explaining: ‘there’s a bittersweet melancholy and a stoic resignation… and the sentiments voiced by François – undaunted optimism, romantic faith – exemplify not only Le Jour se lève’s inner workings, but the entire tone and style of French Poetic Realism.’

Read Ben’s interview with the ICO in full.

Where can you see it?

Below are just some of the cinemas across the UK and Ireland showing the film, so if you are able to, we urge you to catch it.

Broadway, Nottingham (3 October – 9 October) View listings…
Curzon Victoria, London (3 October  – 9 October) View listings…
Irish Film Institute, Dublin (3 October – 9 October) View listings…
Watershed, Bristol (3 October – 9 October) View listings…
Cine Lumiere, London (21 October – 30 October) View listings…
Glasgow Film Theatre (24 October – 26 October) View listings…
Manchester Cornerhouse (2 November and 5 November) View listings…
Queens Film Theatre, Belfast (11 November – 13 November) View listings…

A full list of cinemas screening Le Jour se lève can be found on the ICO’s website.

Browse all our Ciné-Files: French Film Guides on our website. ■