We enjoyed Touchez pas au grisbi so much that last night we watched Jacques Becker's last film, La Trou. It's a prison escape drama, which was just fascinating for its depiction of life inside a french jail in the 1960s. The little details seemed realistic, and the staggering determination of the prisoners to tunned out through concrete, cement, and rock with little more than their bare hands was just incredible. There were some interesting themes, and twists, to the story. Which I won't spoil by telling. In the end, the solidarity of the men, and their ingenuity, were spellbinding. It is an amazing film, over two hours long, where the main action is just men digging a hole. But it was hypnotic. The acting was great. And the best part was the type of food the prisoners received in their care parcels. I still think about the ending. It's sort of an un-Capote. Add this one to your Netflix queue, too...
Friday, December 02, 2005
La Trou
We enjoyed Touchez pas au grisbi so much that last night we watched Jacques Becker's last film, La Trou. It's a prison escape drama, which was just fascinating for its depiction of life inside a french jail in the 1960s. The little details seemed realistic, and the staggering determination of the prisoners to tunned out through concrete, cement, and rock with little more than their bare hands was just incredible. There were some interesting themes, and twists, to the story. Which I won't spoil by telling. In the end, the solidarity of the men, and their ingenuity, were spellbinding. It is an amazing film, over two hours long, where the main action is just men digging a hole. But it was hypnotic. The acting was great. And the best part was the type of food the prisoners received in their care parcels. I still think about the ending. It's sort of an un-Capote. Add this one to your Netflix queue, too...
