A Man Escaped
A Man Escaped

A Man Escaped

1956
Movie
101 min
French

A captured French Resistance fighter during World War II engineers a daunting escape from prison.

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Insights

IMDb7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes97%
Metacritic97/100
Google Users95%
Director: Robert BressonGenres: Drama, Thriller, Crime, War

Plot Summary

Based on a true story, this film chronicles the meticulous and ingenious escape of French Resistance fighter André Devigny from a Nazi prison during World War II. He uses only basic, everyday objects and his own resourcefulness to plan and execute his daring breakout. The film focuses intensely on the practical details of his imprisonment and his unwavering will to survive and escape.

Critical Reception

Robert Bresson's 'A Man Escaped' is widely regarded as a masterpiece of minimalist filmmaking and a profound exploration of human will and determination. Critics lauded its stark realism, intellectual rigor, and Bresson's signature observational style, which immerses the viewer in the protagonist's precise, methodical efforts. It is celebrated for its suspenseful narrative achieved through quiet observation rather than conventional action.

What Reviewers Say

  • A starkly realistic and intellectually gripping depiction of survival and escape.
  • Praised for its masterful direction and Bresson's unique, observational style.
  • Considered one of the greatest films about imprisonment and the human spirit.

Google audience: Audiences highly praise 'A Man Escaped' for its realism, suspense, and the incredible portrayal of human resilience. Many find the detailed depiction of the escape plan fascinating and highly engaging, noting the film's powerful impact despite its minimalist approach.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Special Jury Prize at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Robert Bresson insisted on using non-professional actors for most roles and meticulously researched the actual escape of André Devigny, even visiting the prison where the events took place.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Probably my favourite film from Robert Bresson, this tells the story of "Fontaine" (François Leterrier). He has been arrested by the Nazis on charges of spying and bombing, and is imprisoned without trial. His prognosis is not very good, bu...
tmdb47633491

tmdb47633491

You can see much of where Tarkovsky got his patience from. The ending is given away by the title but somehow the last half hour / escape sequence is still, to quote another reviewer, unbearably suspenseful. I much prefer this Ian Curtis per...