7.5/10
906
11 user 7 critic

Die 317. Sektion (1965)

La 317ème section (original title)
In Vietnam, 1954, a French platoon isolated behind enemy lines tries to come back. It is led by the inexperienced, idealistic sous-lieutenant Torrens, and by adjutant Willsdorf, a WWII veteran of the Werhmacht.
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1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview:
Jacques Perrin ... Le sous-lieutenant Torrens
Bruno Cremer ... L'adjudant Willsdorf
Pierre Fabre Pierre Fabre ... Le sergent Roudier
Manuel Zarzo ... Le caporal Perrin
Boramy Tioulong Boramy Tioulong ... Le sergent supplétif Ba Kut
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Storyline

In 1954, the Indochina War begins to come to a close following France's defeat by the Viet Minh at the deadly Battle of Dîen Bîen Phû. French forces are in full retreat and risk being overrun at every turn -- including the 317th Platoon, a unit of French soldiers and Laotian allies who are led by the idealistic but inexperienced sous-lieutenant Torrens and adjutant Willsdorf, a former soldier in the German Wehrmacht during WWII. Their survival depends on completing a trek through the dense, jungle-laden, expanse of enemy territory that stands between them and the safety of the nearest French outpost. Written by Dr. Jay Trotter

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Genres:

War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

About 30 minutes into the film, part of Macbeth Act 5, Scene 1 (the Lady Macbeth "out, out damned spot" sleep-walking scene) is overheard playing on the radio. See more »

Connections

Referenced in La fille publique (2013) See more »

User Reviews

Synopsis and Comments on La 317e Section
25 April 2000 | by Rave-ReviewerSee all my reviews

In 1954 Vietnam, at the time of Diên Biên Phu, a French unit on patrol under the command of an inexperienced lieutenant is gradually depleted by Vietminh until only an ex-Wehrmacht Alsatian adjutant remains. He is to die, a title informs us, in Algeria in 1960.

Semi-documentary in style, this is an effectively low-key appraisal of the difficult choices with which war confronts its soldiers. As so often in Vietnam films the enemy is only glimpsed from a distance, the camera remaining a disembodied observer among the group. Bertrand Tavernier acted as co-writer on the film.


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Details

Country:

France | Spain

Language:

French | Vietnamese

Release Date:

31 March 1965 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

317th Platoon See more »

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
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