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The Little Soldier

Original title: Le petit soldat
  • 1963
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
7.8K
YOUR RATING
The Little Soldier (1963)
Trailer for Le Petit Soldat
Play trailer2:14
1 Video
62 Photos
DramaWar

During the Algerian War, a man and woman from opposing sides fall in love with one another.During the Algerian War, a man and woman from opposing sides fall in love with one another.During the Algerian War, a man and woman from opposing sides fall in love with one another.

  • Director
    • Jean-Luc Godard
  • Writer
    • Jean-Luc Godard
  • Stars
    • Anna Karina
    • Michel Subor
    • Henri-Jacques Huet
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    7.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jean-Luc Godard
    • Writer
      • Jean-Luc Godard
    • Stars
      • Anna Karina
      • Michel Subor
      • Henri-Jacques Huet
    • 35User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
    • 97Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Le Petit Soldat
    Trailer 2:14
    Watch Le Petit Soldat

    Photos62

    Anna Karina and Michel Subor in The Little Soldier (1963)
    Anna Karina in The Little Soldier (1963)
    Anna Karina and Michel Subor in The Little Soldier (1963)
    Anna Karina and Michel Subor in The Little Soldier (1963)
    Paul Beauvais and Michel Subor in The Little Soldier (1963)
    Anna Karina in The Little Soldier (1963)
    The Little Soldier (1963)
    The Little Soldier (1963)
    The Little Soldier (1963)
    The Little Soldier (1963)
    Henri-Jacques Huet and Michel Subor in The Little Soldier (1963)
    The Little Soldier (1963)

    Top cast

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    Anna Karina
    Anna Karina
    • Veronica Dreyer
    Michel Subor
    Michel Subor
    • Bruno Forestier
    Henri-Jacques Huet
    • Jacques
    Paul Beauvais
    • Paul
    László Szabó
    László Szabó
    • Laszlo
    Georges de Beauregard
    • Activist Leader
    • (uncredited)
    Gilbert Edard
    Gilbert Edard
      Jean-Luc Godard
      Jean-Luc Godard
      • Man at Railway Station
      • (uncredited)
      • Director
        • Jean-Luc Godard
      • Writer
        • Jean-Luc Godard
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Trivia
        The film was actually completed in 1960, and was Jean-Luc Godard's second film after Breathless (1960). It was shelved for three years by the French censors.
      • Quotes

        Bruno Forestier: Photography is truth...and cinema is truth 24 times a second.

      • Connections
        Edited into Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002)

      User reviews35

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      10/10
      Godard's underrated classic
      This film isn't even in release on video in the U.S. and it's not in Maltin's book. Yet it is among Godard's best films. Banned on it's initial release in France because of it's treatment of the Algerian war, this film has yet to receive the attention it deserves.

      First of all, it is essential viewing for any fans of Godard if for no other reason because it's is his second feature film. Unlike BREATHLESS, which is partly noted as being such a seminal film due to its fearless departure in style and disregard for any convention of the "well-made" film, LE PETIT SOLDAT shows Godard working with a more straightforward verite approach. BREATHLESS' essence is irony and iconoclasm in terms of character, narrative, editing, filmmaking philosophy etc. With LE PETIT SOLDAT, however, Godard uses the gangster genre rather sincerely in order to relate a political morality tale. The film has several of Godard's characteristic visual trademarks: handheld verite immediacy, many varieties of city location shots (in this case Geneva) and many shots of Anna Karina's beautiful face. Also, it has the distinctive poetic Godard voice-overs, which in this film represent the lead character's (Bruno) interior thoughts. In short, stylistically, it is typical of Godard's greatest poetic gifts as a filmmaker, with the added advantage of a relatively conventional narrative.

      In terms of the plot, I only want to say the film is about a right wing spy, when ordered to assassinate an operative assisting the Algerians, becomes involved with a beautiful woman also assisting them. I'll let you see the rest.

      As I said above, Godard treats the gangster genre with respect and uses it sincerely at least in terms of narrative style. Visually, it's all Godard -- roving shots from cars, moody nighttime shots of city lights and letters, handheld close-ups, verite action, characters photographing other characters, etc. In terms of content, while we don't get the "political" Godard in BREATHLESS, in LE PETIT SOLDAT the political Godard emerges, and with great urgency and energy. This film was banned in France, so it must have seemed extraordinarily effective, politically, upon its release. But since this was only Godard's second film, there was probably not too much controversy (though I'm not sure) surrounding its censorship.

      In a way, this film is Godard's "Hamlet." At issue for much of the film is whether for Bruno (the protagonist)has "to be or not to be." Should one act or not? But also, Bruno must not only decide if he should act, but for whom -- the right or the left, or simply for himself. Bruno is conscientious, but he is also a French patriot. His choice, and its process, is a compelling one. Outside this political/moral crisis is early Godard's treatment of love, acting, beauty, the image, authority and loss. There is also a torture scene in this film that is shocking, not because it is gruesome, but because of Godard's natural immediacy and presence as a director. It feels so real.

      It has some weaknesses associated with Godard, mainly a somewhat simplistic and schematic approach to politics and a tendency for characters (mainly Bruno) to voice their ideas and impressions in a way that is extraneous to the rest of the film. But this is Godard, and in his hands these qualities (at least in this film) feel like strengths rather than weaknesses. There is a monologue by Bruno which is like a five minute rant. Some may find it overbearing and undramatic. I loved it.

      This is among the most romantic of Godard's films. Bruno is all intensity and rebellion. In his temperament he is similar to Eddie Constantine's character in ALPHAVILLE. Enough is enough.

      I've only seen about six or seven Godard films (all from the 1960's), and because I like his more directly political ones the most, this one is my favorite along with WEEKEND, though I really liked MY LIFE TO LIVE as well. I heartily recommend it, if you can find it.
      helpful•22
      7
      • enicholson
      • Mar 7, 2001

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      Details

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      • Release date
        • January 25, 1963 (France)
      • Country of origin
        • France
      • Languages
        • German
        • French
      • Also known as
        • Der kleine Soldat
      • Filming locations
        • Geneva, Canton de Genève, Switzerland
      • Production companies
        • Les Productions Georges de Beauregard
        • Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC)
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      • Budget
        • $180,000 (estimated)
      • Gross US & Canada
        • $24,296
      • Opening weekend US & Canada
        • $6,848
        • Mar 10, 2013
      • Gross worldwide
        • $24,296
      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • Runtime
        1 hour 28 minutes
      • Color
        • Black and White
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.37 : 1

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