Dir. Jacques Becker, 1960. 132 min. B&W. DCP.
With Michel Constantin, Marc Michel
In French with English subtitles
In this prison-break caper four hardened cellmates about to carry out a long-planned escape must decide whether to trust the well-bred young convict newly assigned to their cell.
Shot in Paris’s infamous La Santé prison, Le Trou is a grippingly authentic take on prison life, served by Becker’s rigorous eye for detail and unvarnished performances by a captivating group of non-professional actors including a participant in the real-life attempted escape that inspired the film. With this last film, Becker laces together a timeless meditation on camaraderie and betrayal with overpowering suspense.
“Le Trou is a prison-break movie of equal parts Gallic sang-froid and nail-biting tension” — Wall Street Journal
Special Guest
The 7:30pm screening will be introduced by filmmaker Paloma Veinstein.