There have been a plethora of documentaries made on the devastating aftermath of the Second World War. While all of them explore a wide range of angles on the horrific events of the wars and their consequences for the ordinary masses, they all have one thing in common: they are all set in suffering and death.

From the same setting emerges Marcel Ophüls’s The Sorrow and the Pity, which tells the world of the dark chapter in France’s history. The documentary, which was made in 1969 but released in 1972, takes the viewers to a time when a Nazi-occupied France was writhing in agony while some of its own leaders conspired alongside their occupiers.

This untold story from France’s history has recently seen a surge in demand, with people scouring the internet and platforms like Netflix for the streaming details of the documentary.

No, The Sorrow and the Pity is not available on Netflix for streaming. According to JustWatch, The Sorrow and the Pity is currently available for streaming on YouTube TV and Kino Film Collection. Additionally, the documentary can be downloaded or rented online via Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.

In addition to streaming, one can purchase the film on DVD from Amazon DVD/Blu-ray and on Blu-ray from Barnes & Noble and Zavvi. Those who want to watch the docufilm for free it is available for free streaming on Hoopla. Therefore, there are a number of ways to access the World War II documentary.

If one needs to check the parameters of the documentary’s popularity in the United States, JustWatch provides one. On the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts for today, The Sorrow and the Pity is ranked seventh. Since yesterday, the film has risen 15 spots on the charts. Although it is currently less popular than One Battle After Another but is more in demand than Spider-Man: No Way Home in the US.

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With the above assessment, the question arises, what does the documentary entail to make it this interesting?

The Sorrow and the Pity is actually about the Vichy government's cooperation with the Germans and the Nazi occupation of France. This documentary, which focuses on the city of Clermont-Ferrand, explores the torment of the common people of France, whether those who cooperated with their oppressors or those who fought against them. It explores the complexity of occupation and resistance through newsreels, archive video, eyewitness narratives, and more.

Through his narrative genius, Marcel Ophüls doubles down on the human element of the ordeal with a clever blend of different voices and striking faces, providing a different sense of vulnerability to the spirit of the country that is shackled by Nazi rule. The documentary, just like any other World War II account, gives the ground reality of the horrors of war and conflict.

Have you watched The Sorrow and the Pity yet? If yes, what was your reaction to the state of France under Nazi rule? Do let us know.