7.4/10
6,408
69 user 65 critic

Beau travail (1999)

Unrated | | Drama, War | 3 May 2000 (France)
Beau travail Poster
This film focuses on an ex-Foreign Legion officer as he recalls his once glorious life, leading troops in Africa.

Director:

Claire Denis

Writers:

Claire Denis, Jean-Pol Fargeau | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Denis Lavant, Michel Subor, Grégoire Colin | See full cast & crew »
91
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6 wins & 10 nominations. See more awards »

Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denis Lavant ... Galoup
Michel Subor ... Commander Bruno Forestier
Grégoire Colin ... Gilles Sentain
Richard Courcet Richard Courcet ... Legionnaire
Nicolas Duvauchelle ... Legionnaire
Adiatou Massudi Adiatou Massudi ... Legionnaire
Mickael Ravovski Mickael Ravovski ... Legionnaire
Dan Herzberg Dan Herzberg ... Legionnaire
Giuseppe Molino Giuseppe Molino ... Legionnaire
Gianfranco Poddighe Gianfranco Poddighe ... Legionnaire
Marc Veh Marc Veh ... Legionnaire
Thong Duy Nguyen Thong Duy Nguyen ... Legionnaire
Jean-Yves Vivet Jean-Yves Vivet ... Legionnaire
Bernardo Montet Bernardo Montet ... Legionnaire
Dimitri Tsiapkinis Dimitri Tsiapkinis ... Legionnaire
See full cast »
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Storyline

This film focuses on ex-Foreign Legion officer, Galoup, as he recalls his once glorious life, leading troops in the Gulf of Djibouti. His existence there was happy, strict and regimented, but the arrival of a promising young recruit, Sentain, plants the seeds of jealousy in Galoup's mind. He feels compelled to stop him from coming to the attention of the commandant who he admires, but who ignores him. Ultimately, his jealousy leads to the destruction of both Sentain and himself. Written by L.H. Wong <lhw@sfs.org.sg>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

military training | legionnaire | male rear nudity | skinny dipping | obsession | See All (121) »

Genres:

Drama | War

Certificate:

Unrated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French | Italian | Russian

Release Date:

3 May 2000 (France) See more »

Also Known As:

Bella tarea See more »

Filming Locations:

Djibouti
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Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,003, 2 April 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$247,606, 19 November 2000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

La Sept-Arte,S.M. Films,Tanaïs Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the film that inspired Greta Gerwig to be a director. See more »

Quotes

Commander Bruno Forestier: If it weren't for fornication and blood, we wouldn't be here.
See more »

Connections

Version of Hora once: Billy Budd (1972) See more »

Soundtracks

The Rhythm of the Night
Performed by Corona
Warner Chappel Music Ltd. / Extravaganza Pub / Intersong Music Ltd.
With license from Wom Records.
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Most powerful ending since Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rublev"
8 December 2000 | by gabridl – See all my reviews

"French Foreign Legion of the mind" is close, but I think a better epitome would be a meditation on wasted potential. If there is a theme that runs through Claire Denis' movies, it is civilization and its discontents, and this is her best work on the subject yet. The imagery alludes to Antonioni's "The Passenger" and rightly so: both films treat the annihilation of identity, although Denis' vision is ultimately darker. The last scene is the most haunting since the ending to Tarkovsky's "Andrei Rublev."

Sure, the voice-over is awkward, but Calvin Klein is absolutely the wrong referent here. Far apter would be Leni Riefenstahl.
16 of 23 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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