my Movie

Movie Details

Title:   Le Trou
Director:   Jaqcues Becker
Year:   1960
Genre:   Prison
Times Seen:   1
Last Seen:   11.12.16

Other Movies Seen By This Director (0)

Notes History
Date Viewed Venue Note
11.12.16DVDThis Screening is part of event: DVRfest 2016
Finally caught a long one. I think this is the first film over two hour all weekend, but in some ways it also felt like one of the shortest. I mean I'm a sucker for a prison escape movie anyway but this film unfolds like a procedural wet dream. There's one shot where one of the inmates, one of the men involved in the real-life incident which inspired the novel and the film, lifts up the parquet floorboards(!) of their cell and turns a smooth plane of cement into a foot-deep hole. And it's riveting! There's like two full hours of watching these guys dig and explore and smuggle and solve problems all in executing their escape, and like 10 minutes of talking and whatnot. It's awesome.

The whole cast is great too. Something about a good prison movie is all about that borderline-gay brotherhood of honor and friendship. Watching these dudes share their amazing-looking French prison food is really enjoyable for some reason. Also, why they have full suits and leather jackets in prison is a bit of a mystery for me, but I guess that was just the way. But mostly the one guy, the real guy who at the beginning of the movie walks up to the camera and says "My friend Jacques Becker made this movie and it's about me" is totally amazing. He's missing the tips of his thumb and forefinger on one hand, but still handles prison-tools like a champ. I got the same feeling from watching Danny Trejo in an Eddie Bunker movie like Animal Factory. I can totally tell that he has been there and done that. I totally believe that this guy has no problem pounding through rock walls, filing door hinges off, and fashioning makeshift hour glasses. I mean i believe that because they literally showed me in the movie, but still.. i totally believed.

So yeah, this movie was great. I loved it. Le Trou, The Hold.

So... it's 9:30. It looks like I might only have time for one more random choice before the pre-ordained midnight movie, but let's see.