Le Trou (1960)

 Jacques Becker's "Le Trou"

What I didn't know when I sat down to watch 1960's "Le Trou" was that the film's director, Jacques Becker, had passed away from lung cancer only weeks after shooting had wrapped. It is such a shame for the French master to have died so young, as his works up until this point were among the best from the 'tradition of quality,' as the lads from 'Cahiers du Cinema' called it. I'm curious how Becker would have responded to the New Wave period, as its artists - like Godard and Truffaut - were influenced by him and his work, particularly 1952's "Casque d'or." 

"Le Trou" is a film about a group of prisoners and their meticulous attempt at escape. The story is based on a book, which is based on a true story. The true story was something Becker had read about in a newspaper back in 1947. After Jose Giovanni had adapted that true story into a novel, 1957's "The Break," Becker acquired Giovanni to help adapt his screenplay. Becker even hired one of the men involved in the actual prison escape plot to be in the film - Jean Keraudy, who plays Roland.

When I reached the midway point of the film, my initial thoughts on the film were that it seemed exactly like "A Man Escaped" with no soul. I found it to be wildly engaging and entertaining but nothing thematic was in my reach. However, as Becker seems to excel at, he completely won me over with the intimacy he creates amongst his characters.

As the film progressed, I began to feel the comradery present, as the men grew more and more intimate with one other - with some scenes suggesting a homosexual element to some of their kinship. The entire operation of escape demanded trust and relationship building between each one, allowing the emotional connection of the film to feel that much more palpable. Becker gains this trust from the audience, which he needs to fully allow the finale of the film to have its emotional impact.

Although France's 'quality of cinema' was coming to a close by 1960, Jacques Becker cemented the period with one last film of quality. "Le Trou" takes elements from French films that had made an impact over the past several years, like "A Man Escaped" and even a bit of "Rififi." But, its total originality in style and execution leaves behind the mark of a true artist.