305. Un condamné à mort s'est échappé

Un condamné à mort s'est échappé 
A Man Escaped
1956
Directed by Robert Bresson














I love a good prison story, especially if it is a French prison story; those are always the best.


We are getting a rush of Nazi films here; I guess around this time the atrocities were finally out in the open and uncensored.  The film opens with a really solemn message that commemorates the 7,000 men who died at the hands of the Nazis at Montluc prison.  Just disgusting.


Anyway, this movie, which is based on fact, is about a French Resistance fighter who is imprisoned by the Nazis.  He decides to escape with a trusty spoon (they really should not give those out at prisons anymore).




This is a really tense film; I think when a lot of people think of French films, they think of realist or surrealist films.  However, the French come out with some great thrillers, including this one.  It is also beautifully filmed; like The Hole, after awhile you feel so claustrophobic that you too want to escape the prison.


A must see film.


RATING: ****-


Interesting Facts:


A completely unprofessional cast.


Bresson himself was a prisoner of war.