- Beau travail
Infobox Film
name = Beau travail
image_size = 150px
caption = Region 1 DVD cover
director =Claire Denis
producer =Patrick Grandperret
writer =Claire Denis
music =Charles Henri de Pierrefeu
cinematography =Agnès Godard
editing =Nelly Quettier
distributor =Pyramide Distribution
released = 1999
runtime = 90 mins
country = France
language = French, Italian, Russian
imdb_id = 0209933"Beau travail" is a
1999 French movie directed byClaire Denis that is loosely based onHerman Melville 's novella "Billy Budd". However, instead of the maritime setting of the novella, the movie takes place inDjibouti where the protagonists are soldiers in theFrench Foreign Legion . Parts of the soundtrack of the movie are from theopera byBenjamin Britten also based on the novella.Back in France, master sergeant Galoup (
Denis Lavant ) remembers the time in the desert, where he led his men under the command of Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor ). His life there consisted mostly of routine duties like supervising the physical exercise of his men.One day, his troop is joined by Gilles Sentain (
Grégoire Colin ), whose physical beauty, social skills, and fortitude make Galoup envious. As in the novel, repressedhomosexual feelings on the part of Galoup are hinted at.When Sentain helps another soldier, violating previous orders by Galoup, Galoup sees a chance to destroy Sentain. As a punishment, he drives him out into the desert to make him walk back to the base. But Sentain does not return because Galoup has tampered with his
compass , and Sentain cannot make his way out without it.Even though Sentain is later found and rescued by natives, Galoup is sent back to France by his commander for a
court martial , ending his time in the Foreign Legion. The final scene suggests the possibility of hissuicide .See also
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List of gay-related movies External links
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