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Verdun, November 10, 1920. Drums roll through the vaulted chapel. A young private, Auguste Thin, lays a bouquet of flowers on one of the eight coffins in front of him, each containing the unidentified remains of a French soldier. Private Thin has entered history: he has just selected the ambassador of the departed. In coffin 6 lies the Unknown Soldier. Immediately escorted to Paris, the Unknown Soldier is interred beneath the Arch of Triumph on November 11, 1920. The idea of the Unknown Soldier was born during World War I and took shape immediately after the Armistice: despite the victory, there remained the trauma of the industrialized slaughter, the despair of thousands of families vainly seeking the remains of their dear departed: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier would be the symbol of their mourning. The genesis of this symbol is an eventful story, which led to clashes with Great Britain, the two nations having chosen to inter their Unknown Soldiers on the same day.

France - 2008 - 52 mn - HD Cam • 4/3 - Colour

Director Christophe Weber Writer Christophe Weber Camera Marc Seferchian Sound Jean-Jacques Faure Editing Franck Mazuet Music Bertrand Grangereau

Production Institut National de l'Audiovisuel, 4 avenue de l'Europe, 94366 Bry-sur-Marne Cedex, France Tél : +33 1 4983 2000 Fax : +33 1 4983 3182 E-mail : cgraziani@ina.fr

Sales Michèle Gautard Institut National de l'Audiovisuel, 4 avenue de l'Europe, 94366 Bry-sur-Marne Cedex, France Tél : +33 1 4983 2000 Fax : +33 1 4983 3182 E-mail : mgautard@ina.fr