The path of the impostor: motifs and self-reference in The War Is Over (La guerre est finie, Alain Resnais, 1966)

Abstract

The aim of this analysis is to identify the operation of imposture in The War Is Over (La guerre est finie, Alain Resnais, 1966), the first film scripted by the Spanish writer Jorge Semprún, whose centenary was celebrated in 2023. Through the specific design of an analytical model that combines premises of narratology with pragmatics and dramatology, the motifs of the impostor, disguise and deception are analysed through the characters’ actions and dialogues. The findings suggest that linguistic manipulation and the use of the strategies and tools of imposture are key elements of a constant process of rewriting that involves the construction/reconstruction of identity. The protagonist’s use of language prioritises the illocutionary dimension with those who seek to expose the truth, and the locutionary dimension with collaborators or accomplices in the lie. In the latter case, the double direction typical of cinematic dialogue comes into play, as the information exchanged is also intended for the spectator. The narrative voice performs a deictic role that exposes the simulacrum, while reflecting the self-referential approach characteristic of Jorge Semprún’s work.