Les fêtes galantes (movie)

These flags come from the movie "Les fêtes galantes" (1965) by René Clair, a franco-romananian coproduction. This comedy takes place in an unnamed state where we see the siege of the forteress of Allenberg by the army of the Prince de Beaulieu sometime in the 18th century.

Why this siege takes place is never made quite clear and neither is wether these are 2 different states fighting one another or a civil war. This is, of course, done on purpose as part of the humour comes from the satyre made of the "war in lace" era with whole armies composed of mercenaries that change sides (sometime more then once) and an officer asking his ennemy if they would mind stopping the fighting for the day so that they might go to lunch (all the while complimenting one another on their prowess and galantry).

As I said, the opposing forces are meant to be stocks armies of the era and everything, from the name of characters to the uniforms used, show inspiration from various nations and so speculating on what countries directly inspired the flags would be futile (though fun).
Marc Pasquin, 17 May 2005