This French film was featured in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and from director René Clair (Beau Travail) it sounded like an interesting concept, I was kind of surprised to see only an average rating by the critics, but that didn't put me off wanting to see it. Basically in a French prison, cell mates Émile (Henri Marchand) and Louis (Raymond Cordy) are friends, and day after day they work in labour assembling various things, e.g. wood or metal products, and together they plan to make an escape. After the plan goes ahead only Louis successfully gets out and makes it, and on the outside after some time he reestablishes himself as a captain of industry and opening his own phonograph manufacturing company which gains good success. Émile feeling he would not be able to do it without the assistance of his friend has no further plans to try and escape again, but he does manage to seize an opportunity to do it himself, and he manages it. On the outside he goes to the primary phonograph factory owned by Louis and gets a job there, he has no idea his friend is the owner, and when they do reunite it coincides with the plan to upgrade factory operations to supply products mechanised. While dealing with their lives, issue with women and staying one step ahead of the law who may be searching for them, and the modernisation they learn will ultimately lead to emotional freedom that could not have come from escaping the prison confines, but they also find freedom brings some consequences. Also starring Rolla France as Jeanne, Paul Ollivier as Uncle Paul Imaque, Jacques Shelly as Paul, André Michaud as Foreman, Germaine Aussey as Maud and Alexander D'Arcy as Gigolo. The two leading actors playing the prisoners who may actually want to do some kind of good after escaping their captivity are good, I recognised immediately that this film obviously influenced Sir Charlie Chaplin to create the film Modern Times, there was even a failed legal battle by a producer to claim for plagiarism, but the director felt flattered, it is a funny film displaying then modern life in a certain environment, and a most watchable satire. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Art Direction. Good!
Review of À Nous la Liberté
