“People ask me if it was a real steam engine!”
The director of “Les Enfants de la Résistance” (Children of the Resistance), a film released on 11 February, recounts the filming of a memorable scene that features a WWII-era steam engine.
“I’m always imagining train scenes”
No spoilers, but in Christophe Barratier’s latest film—set during the German Occupation of France—a striking scene involving a steam locomotive plays a key role in the story.
Recreating the railway setting took meticulous preparation, including identifying steam engines used in comparable period films and sourcing historically accurate coaches. These were supplied by two railway preservation groups: the Amicale des Anciens et Amis de la Traction Vapeur Centre Val de Loire and the Chemin de Fer Touristique Limousin-Périgord. On the big day—which was in fact a nighttime shoot—SNCF Réseau railway workers were also on set to keep everyone safe.
Learn more about this very unusual film set straight from the director, Christophe Barratier.
“The train scene is the most spectacular in the film.” (3:08)
Photos from an epic film shoot
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