History Literature / LeSilenceDeLaMer

* AdaptationalHeroism: There's nothing indicating that Werner believes in Nazi ideals in the 2004 film adaptation, and he saves Jeanne from a rape attempt in it.

* AttemptedRape: In the 2004 TV film adaptation, Jeanne is attacked by her cousin Pascal in her home when she refuses his advances. Her screams alert Werner, who just got out of his car, and his presence alone is enough to make Pascal go away.

* LaResistance: Naturally, as the author was a member of the French resistance when he wrote the book.

* AttemptedRape: In the 2004 TV film Jeanne is attacked by her cousin Pascal in her home when she refuses his advances, but her screams alert Werner.

* AttemptedRape: In the 2004 TV film Pascal attacks Jeanne in her home when she refuses his advances, but her screams alert Werner.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into several stage plays as well as two French-language films -- one of them is Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut released in 1949 and starring Howard Vernon, Nicole Stéphane and Jean-Marie Robain, the other is a 2004 TV film starring Julie Delarme, Thomas Jouannet and Creator/MichelGalabru.In the 2004 adaptation, the niece becomes a granddaughter called Jeanne Larosière and the uncle a grandfather called André Larosière.

* ElegantClassicalMusician: the niece and Werner

* RevengeByProxy: In the 2004 adaptation[[DisproportionateRetribution 99 French hostages are shot]] in retaliation for a Resistance attack that kills two German officers.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into several stage plays as well as two French-language films -- one of them is Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut released in 1949 and starring Howard Vernon, Nicole Stéphane and Jean-Marie Robain, the other is a 2004 TV film starring Julie Delarme, Thomas Jouannet and Creator/MichelGalabru.

* AnachronismStew: Part of Werner's HeelRealization comes on a visit to Paris in September 1941, when he reads a memo from March 1941 about operations at Treblinka. Treblinka was not brought into service as an extermination camp until 1942.
* AttemptedRape: Pascal attacks Jeanne in her home when she refuses his advances, but her screams alert Werner.

* ContemptCrossfire: Werner the German officer quartered in the French home is an OfficerAndAGentleman, truly believing in the ideals of the Nazi party and how eliminating the weak will make the world a better place (for their part, his unwilling hosts maintain absolute silence towards him). Then after he meets his brother (now a CardCarryingVillain delighting in the pain and misery he causes) and learns about the death camps, he finally realizes the brutish, destructive thuggery that the Nazis stand for, and volunteers for the Eastern front.

* ElegantClassicalMusician: Jeanne and Werner
* ExternalCombustion

* JustFollowingOrders: Werner is no doubt thinking about this at the end, when, right before leaving, he cracks open an Anatole France book and sees the quote "It is beautiful for a soldier to disobey orders which are criminal."

* PlaceWorseThanDeath: When Werner reveals that he has requested a transfer to the Eastern Front, he remarks to his hosts that he is "Off to Hell".

* PragmaticAdaptation: The 1949 film omits the AttemptedRape plot point.

* RevengeByProxy: [[DisproportionateRetribution 99 French hostages are shot]] in retaliation for a Resistance attack that kills two German officers.

* TranquilFury: The humiliated anger of the uncle and niece is palpable, but never finds expression, except maybe in a few [[DeathGlare Death Glares]]. In the 2004 film, Werner's reaction when he prevents a [[AttemptedRape rape of Jeanne by Pascal]] also qualifies.

* TranquilFury: The humiliated anger of the uncle and niece is palpable, but never finds expression, except maybe in a few [[DeathGlare Death Glares]]. In the 2004 film, Werner's reaction when he prevents Pascal's AttemptedRape of Jeanne also qualifies.
* WorthyOpponent: How Werner views France. The uncle comes to feel the same way about Werner.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into several stage plays as well as two French-language films -- one of them is Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut in 1949 starring Howard Vernon, Nicole Stéphane and Jean-Marie Robain, the other is a 2004 TV film starring Julie Delarme, Thomas Jouannet and Creator/MichelGalabru.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into several stage plays as well as two French-language films -- one of them is Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut in 1949, the other is a 2004 TV film starring Julie Delarme, Thomas Jouannet and Creator/MichelGalabru.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into several stage plays as well as two French-language films -- one of them is Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut in 1949, the other is a 2004 TV film.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into two French-language films - one of them is Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut in 1949, the other is a 2004 TV film - and several stage plays.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Part of Werner's HeelRealization comes on a visit to Paris in September 1941, when he reads a memo from March 1941 about operations at Treblinka. Treblinka was not brought into service as an extermination camp until 1942.

[[quoteright:256:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/SilenceDeLaMer_7672.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:256: Thomas Jouannet and Julie Delarme in the 2004 [[FilmOfTheBook TV film adaptation]].]]

French novella ("The Silence of the Sea") written in 1942 by Jean Bruller and published secretly under his pseudonym, "Vercors". Which is just as well, as it quickly became a symbol of [[LaResistance mental resistance]] against the German occupation.

[[caption-width-right:256: Thomas Jouannet and Julie Delarme in the 2004 [[FilmOfTheBook film adaptation]].]]

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into two French-language films - one of them Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut in 1949 - and several stage plays.

* WorthyOpponent: How Werner views France.

* PayEvilUntoEvil: Werner has Pascal arrested by the [[SecretPolice Gestapo]] after the latter [[AttemptedRape assaults]] Jeanne.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into two French-language films - one of them Creator/JeanPierreMelville's feature-length debut in 1949 - and several stage plays.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into two French-language films - one of them Jean-Pierre Melville's feature-length debut in 1949 - and several stage plays.

A 1946 English TV adaptation was one of the first programmes broadcast by the BBC after the end of WorldWarII. The book has also been adapted into two French-language films - one of them Jean-Pierre Melville's feature-length debut - and several stage plays.

French novella written in 1942 by Jean Bruller and published secretly under his pseudonym, "Vercors". Which is just as well, as it quickly became a symbol of [[LaResistance mental resistance]] against the German occupation.

* [[spoiler: AlasPoorVillain]]

* ElectiveMute

* [[spoiler: [[FinalFirstHug Final First Words]]]]: ''"Adieu."''

* HeelRealisation: Happens during [[spoiler: Werner's time in Paris]].

* NoNameGiven: In the original novel, the two principal characters are known only as "the uncle" and "the niece".

* PlaceWorseThanDeath: When Werner reveals that he has [[spoiler: requested a transfer to the Eastern Front, he remarks to his hosts that he is "Off to Hell"]].

* [[spoiler: ReassignedToAntarctica]]

* WorldWarII

The story centres on an elderly man and his young niece, who are forced to share their home with a German officer named Werner, and though they are unable to hinder him directly, they resolve to show resistance by never saying a word to him. The uncomfortable arrangement is complicated by the fact that Werner is a [[FriendlyEnemy polite Francophile]] who genuinely desires amity with his unwilling hosts and between their two warring nations.

* [[spoiler: [[FinalFirstHug Final First Words]]: ''"Adieu."''

* TranquilFury: The anger and humiliation of the uncle and niece is palpable, but never finds expression, except maybe in a few [[DeathGlare DeathGlares]]. In the 2004 film, Werner's reaction when he prevents Pascal's AttemptedRape of Jeanne also qualifies.

* TranquilFury: The anger and humiliation of the uncle and niece is palpable, but never finds expression, except maybe in a few DeathGlares. In the 2004 film, Werner's reaction when he prevents Pascal's AttemptedRape of Jeanne also qualifies.