Beau Travail
1999 · Movie · NR · 93 min · ★ 7.1 · 89% critics
A disciplined officer in the French Foreign Legion looks back on his time training troops in Djibouti, where routine drills and strict order shape daily life. When a talented new recruit arrives and earns attention, simmering jealousy begins to erode the unit’s fragile balance and the officer’s sense of control.
Based on Billy Budd, Sailor
Also known as Good Work
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel — or rent from $3.99.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1999
- Release date
- 2000-05-03
- Language
- French
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Critic score
- 89/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.1/10 (366 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a moody, image-driven military drama about discipline and jealousy with sparse dialogue and lingering tension, similar in feel to The Intruder; Not for you if you need fast pacing or a talky, straightforward plot.
Pros: striking imagery; tense slow-burn mood; strong physical performances | Cons: very quiet storytelling; minimal plot beats; pace may feel slow
Themes
- dance
- based on novel or book
- foreign legion
- woman director
- masculinity
- power play
- djibouti
- gay theme
Awards & recognition
- César Award — Best Cinematography · 2001
- Chlotrudis Award — Best Cinematography · 2001
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Cinematography · 2000
- European Film Award — Best Cinematographer · 2000 · nominated
Cast & crew
Denis Lavant
as Galoup
Michel Subor
as Commander Bruno Forestier
Grégoire Colin
as Gilles Sentain
Richard Courcet
as Legionnaire
Nicolas Duvauchelle
as Legionnaire
- AM
Adiatou Massudi
as Legionnaire
- MR
Mickael Ravovski
as Legionnaire
Dan Herzberg
as Legionnaire
- GM
Giuseppe Molino
as Legionnaire
- GP
Gianfranco Poddighe
as Legionnaire
Directed by Claire Denis