Beau Travail

To be shown: 15 October 2001

France 1999 (subtitles)
93 minutes
Directed by Claire Denis
Leading players - Denis Lavant, Michel Subor, Grégoire Colin.

Synopsis

Sergeant Galoup (Denis Lavant) lies on his bed in his small Marseilles flat and relives the events leading to his expulsion from the French Foreign Legion. The Legion has been his family and the good opinion of his commanding officer Forestier (Michel Subor) means everything to him. New recruit Sentain (Grégoire Colin) finds favour with Forestier and Galoup is consumed by jealousy. The narrative is carried by Galoup but much of the story is told in strikingly beautiful images.

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Based on Herman Melville's Billy Budd, with a similar theme of repressed love, the music of Benjamin Britten provides atmosphere for the memorable scenes of domestic detail and physical training that are the visual centre of the film.