Le Trou, or translated into English as The Hole, is a 1960 French film about a prison escape based on a true event. I got this recommended from the "What I watch this month" video series by Karsten Runquist. I have always love his recommendations and this one is no exception. To quote Karsten, he describes the movie as "it is somehow both hypnotic and slow but also energetic and riveting". Although it is a black-and-white movie, but I find the movie very modern, most likely due to how well-paced the movie is.
I saw somewhere an article describes it as the Anti Shawshank Redemption, mainly because it is not a feel-good movie at all. After knowing how it ends, I immediately re-watched the first act of the movie again, to look back how all the hints were already hiding in plain sight. The fact that all of the 5 main characters are non-professional actors, the fact that they cast the guy himself who actually involved in the actual escape, just blows my mind. No wonder Roland looks like a very natural gangster to me, as if someone straight out of Godfather movie.
The lack of soundtrack really heightens the tension of the movie. The plot of story is mostly just about on the act of planning out and carrying out the escape plan. Like there is this one awesome scene in the movie where they are breaking the concrete floor, and it is all a 4-minutes one long take. I was watching the scene be like: hmm... there has been no cut so far, no way, are they... then still no cut, changing hands and continue. Then I thought: holy shit, they are really doing it, a super long take! I was like: alright alright I get the gits of it already. It really makes you feel how hard to knock through a concrete floor.
If I have to nitpick, I guess there is just one no-so believable thing to point out. The prison condition was surprisingly pristine?! Everyone seems to very well-groomed and looks so handsome all the time. At least from what I can see from the prison cell of those 5 main characters share, all seems very tidy and organized. But apart from that, Le Trou is highly recommended.
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