Virelogne

It’s 1870 and Virelogne, a town in Northern France, has been taken over by the Prussians. They are eating at the tables of the family homes they have invaded, and lording over the lives and fortunes of the citizens. How should the townspeople react? Well, what can they do but act the friend. It is perfectly permissable to act politely to the Prussian officer at home, provided you show him little friendliness in public… Yet, in the east of the town, Mother Sauvage waits anxiously for news of her son, off fighting in the war against the same kind of men ishe is forced to look after in her home; and in the west, Boule de Suif declares that she would rather die than have a Prussian in hers….