It's 1954. Lt. Col. Pierre-Noel Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn) is in command at Dien Bien Phu. They would be captured by the Viet Minh marking the end of French involvement in Indochina. Captain Phillipe Esclavier (Alain Delon) is one of the few who survived a volunteer parachute drop into the doomed garrison. Rasepguy's reputation is saved by Escalavier's glowing review after the war. He is to lead a newly formed 10th Parachute Regiment in Algiers with volunteers and rejects from other regiments. His trusted subordinate Lt Ben Mahidi (George Segal) is an Algerian paratrooper who has gone missing. It turns out that Mahidi faced difficulties after returning home and has switched sides to fight for independence.
Algeria gained independence in 1962 after a referendum a year earlier. I can imagine that 1966 would be too soon and too late for this subject matter. The world probably moved on but it's also too soon to dissect this historically. I like the road traveled by Raspeguy and Mahidi. Esclavaier needs a bit more calibrating. He's too naive in some parts and too strident in other parts. He needs to say less. I'm fine with Raspeguy winning the battle. The movie needs to end with terrorist bombings to show that they are actually fighting a small battle in the wider war. There is also the ethnic problem with Segal playing an Arab. Quite frankly, Quinn would be closer in skin color. Their performances are fine but Segal does stand out in his crowd. While I like the slow progression of Raspeguy's descend, it does need more of the horrors. This is a compelling French history drama. I do want it to hit on the brutality a bit harder.
Algeria gained independence in 1962 after a referendum a year earlier. I can imagine that 1966 would be too soon and too late for this subject matter. The world probably moved on but it's also too soon to dissect this historically. I like the road traveled by Raspeguy and Mahidi. Esclavaier needs a bit more calibrating. He's too naive in some parts and too strident in other parts. He needs to say less. I'm fine with Raspeguy winning the battle. The movie needs to end with terrorist bombings to show that they are actually fighting a small battle in the wider war. There is also the ethnic problem with Segal playing an Arab. Quite frankly, Quinn would be closer in skin color. Their performances are fine but Segal does stand out in his crowd. While I like the slow progression of Raspeguy's descend, it does need more of the horrors. This is a compelling French history drama. I do want it to hit on the brutality a bit harder.