The Sorrow and the Pity (1969)

Marius Klein: Self, shopkeeper, Clermont-Ferrand

Quotes 

• Interviewer : Tell me, when what were called "the Jewish decrees" came out, apparently you took out an ad.

  Marius Klein, Store Owner : Yes, that's correct.

  Interviewer : It was an ad in "Le Monieur."

  Marius Klein, Store Owner : You're certainly well-informed. You see, sir, we were four brothers. And this was the solution I found, as people thought we were Jews. My name, Klein, sounds quite Jewish. But I'm Catholic.

  Interviewer : Right.

  Marius Klein, Store Owner : And this was a real source of concern. I didn't know what to do. Four of my brothers fought the war. It was important that I tell people that I am really French.

  Interviewer : I see. In other words, you wanted your clients to know you weren't Jewish.

  Marius Klein, Store Owner : That is correct.

  Interviewer : Why?

  Marius Klein, Store Owner : Because some said I was Jewish. Jews were being arrested, and they said we were Jewish. Don't you see? I couldn't very well allow myself to be labelled as a Jew since I'm a Catholic. Do you understand? So that's why, as you said, I took out an ad. After all, four of my brothers fought in the war. One was killed. The other three were imprisoned.

  Interviewer : But Jews fought in the war too.

  Marius Klein, Store Owner : That's true. I realize that. Listen, I've never been a racist. Jewish or Mahometan, all that mattered to me was that the man did his duty, in which case he was as French as the rest of us.