The war movie as know it has been around from the earliest days of cinema, but not every title has been able to capture the ugly harshness of human conflict. With filmmaker Pierre Schoendoerffer having had his own experiences in southeast Asia this film already has a firm foundation to reach substantial impact; that the production was otherwise able to achieve such additional noted levels of realism is a tremendous credit to all involved. Between harsh rains and terrain while filming in Cambodia, the rigors of exercises and drills that were accordingly practiced - not to mention outstanding production design, costume design, special makeup, stunts, and effects - all the essential ingredients are in place for a feature on much the same level as any subsequent American production set during the United States' protracted war in Vietnam. Sure enough, this should look and feel very familiar to most anyone who has tarried with the genre, for 'La 317ème section' is pretty much right on par in its grittiness and violence, with emphasis on the tired resignation of a platoon on the run amidst a losing battle. There's no major stroke of brilliance at any point, but this is superbly well done all around and well worth exploring.
Schoendoerffer's screenplay capitalizes on the exhaustion, injury and illness, and spurts of fighting and death that characterize the platoon's trek, and to some lesser extent a sense of beleaguered disdain. From the hard work of the crew to excellent acting by the cast, and by all means outstanding direction to orchestrate every scene, that ardor is realized most vividly for we in the audience. Characters are varied and very believable, as is the dialogue; the overall narrative is inevitably on the dour side but smart and mindful all the while, and the scene writing is rich with detail to spur the action, propel the story, and lend verisimilitude. Together with the natural environment and circumstances that defined the days of filming - recalling Werner Herzog's 'Aguirre, the wrath of god' or Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse now,' if to far less extreme a degree - the end result is highly engrossing, and brings home a slightly different side of martial conflict than many similar features have.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is an absolute must-see, but it had my full attention for all of its ninety-five minutes, which is more than I can say for no few other movies; I was more invested than I even realized at first. Impeccable sound design, and the reliable cinematography of seasoned veteran Raoul Coutard, lets us enjoy a viewing experience as crisp and clear as any could be. It seems plain enough that 'La 317ème section' is held in high regard, and I'm certainly inclined to agree: this is all around fantastic, and surely worth exploring if you have the opportunity to check it out.
Schoendoerffer's screenplay capitalizes on the exhaustion, injury and illness, and spurts of fighting and death that characterize the platoon's trek, and to some lesser extent a sense of beleaguered disdain. From the hard work of the crew to excellent acting by the cast, and by all means outstanding direction to orchestrate every scene, that ardor is realized most vividly for we in the audience. Characters are varied and very believable, as is the dialogue; the overall narrative is inevitably on the dour side but smart and mindful all the while, and the scene writing is rich with detail to spur the action, propel the story, and lend verisimilitude. Together with the natural environment and circumstances that defined the days of filming - recalling Werner Herzog's 'Aguirre, the wrath of god' or Francis Ford Coppola's 'Apocalypse now,' if to far less extreme a degree - the end result is highly engrossing, and brings home a slightly different side of martial conflict than many similar features have.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is an absolute must-see, but it had my full attention for all of its ninety-five minutes, which is more than I can say for no few other movies; I was more invested than I even realized at first. Impeccable sound design, and the reliable cinematography of seasoned veteran Raoul Coutard, lets us enjoy a viewing experience as crisp and clear as any could be. It seems plain enough that 'La 317ème section' is held in high regard, and I'm certainly inclined to agree: this is all around fantastic, and surely worth exploring if you have the opportunity to check it out.