Summary
A French resistance fighter, Fontaine, is arrested and sent to a German prison.
He is determined to escape, even though his chance of success is remote. After meticulous
preparations, Fontaine is ready to make his break-out when he is taken to a court marshal
and found guilty of sabotage. He will be shot the following day…
Review
Although it has some fierce competition, this is probably the best film made by French
film director Robert Bresson. It somehow encapsulates every element of Bresson’s
unique kind of cinema at the same time as being one of the most compelling and beautiful
films ever made.
The story is based on the real-life memoirs of a French Lieutenant, André Devigny,
who managed to pull of an incredible escape from a German prison hours before he was due
to be executed. It is a story that is perfect material for Bresson’s brand
of cinema. The director manages to evoke from the narrative a stirring tale of faith
and salvation. Far from being a detractor, this Christian subtext adds a powerful
spiritual dimension to the film.
By focusing on the intricate details of the escape and getting the prisoner to narrate
his thoughts, the film manages to draw the viewer right into the prisoner’s confined
little world, and we become almost a willing partner in his escape. The idea
of an inner voice is a recurring device in Bresson’s cinema, but here it works perfectly.
We hear other sounds in the background, but it is the prisoner’s inner thoughts
which dominates our viewpoint. This heightens the sense of isolation and enables
us to comprehend why escape is so important to him.
In keeping with much of Bresson’s cinema, action scenes are eluded to but never
shown, and his actors (all non-professional) were trained not to display any emotion in
their performances. For much of the film we are confined to the prisoner’s
crammed cell and other characters are encountered only fleetingly. In spite of this,
this must surely rate as the most compelling film about a prison break-out ever made.
© James Travers 2001
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