A beautifully shot drama, with masterful sound design. Beau travail looks into the life of a platoon of legionnaires stationed in North Africa. The film may move at a slow pace and have little dialogue, but these criticisms are completely overshadowed by its compelling visuals and intriguing ending. A must watch.
I think all of these comments about the ending are setting many viewers up for disappointment. The ending is not the best part of the movie, nor is it very striking. If you enjoy the first 80 minutes, the ending won't change that. But do yourself a favor and don't hold your breath for some kind of powerful cinematic experience before the credits roll. This movie foremost captures your attention with visuals.
In Breau Travail, Claire Denis points her erotic lens towards both sexes and blurs the distinction. Denis Lavant, who gave a bravura performance in Holy Motors, is no less fearless here as a French Legion sergeant who becomes jealous of a younger serviceman for the attentions of their grizzled commander. An erotic tension arises without it speaking to any kind of homosexuality. There's not much plot, however, the film more interested in showing the life, day in, day out, of Legionnaires stationed in Eastern Africa (training mostly). The cinematography favors metallic skies, bronze bodies, and land and sea out of the ceramicist's kiln, a hard, primeval palette. And then there's that credits sequence, Denis Lavant at his fiercest.
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Comments 1 - 9 of 9
greenhorg
This is like a 90 minute Madonna video.lorax
If you love the ending of this movie, in all of it's absurd glory, do yourself a favor and go see Holy Motorsacolthart
A beautifully shot drama, with masterful sound design. Beau travail looks into the life of a platoon of legionnaires stationed in North Africa. The film may move at a slow pace and have little dialogue, but these criticisms are completely overshadowed by its compelling visuals and intriguing ending. A must watch.CrunchySumbitch
I think all of these comments about the ending are setting many viewers up for disappointment. The ending is not the best part of the movie, nor is it very striking. If you enjoy the first 80 minutes, the ending won't change that. But do yourself a favor and don't hold your breath for some kind of powerful cinematic experience before the credits roll. This movie foremost captures your attention with visuals.demagogo
bueno pero son reebok o nike?Celluloid Jam
A slow, beautiful dream. No need to cut a shot when you've set it up so perfectly that the action flows in and out of the one you've got.Also, THE ENDING.
chryzsh
I decided to watch this based on Denis' impactful performance in Holy Motors, but found this a severely dull and uneventful experience.Siskoid
In Breau Travail, Claire Denis points her erotic lens towards both sexes and blurs the distinction. Denis Lavant, who gave a bravura performance in Holy Motors, is no less fearless here as a French Legion sergeant who becomes jealous of a younger serviceman for the attentions of their grizzled commander. An erotic tension arises without it speaking to any kind of homosexuality. There's not much plot, however, the film more interested in showing the life, day in, day out, of Legionnaires stationed in Eastern Africa (training mostly). The cinematography favors metallic skies, bronze bodies, and land and sea out of the ceramicist's kiln, a hard, primeval palette. And then there's that credits sequence, Denis Lavant at his fiercest.MM
What an ending, so transfixing