A Man Escaped

In the head, thousands of alternatives go through a cycle of proposal, assessment, and rejection. Time is abundant yet so fleeting... The peak of tension in Bressonian anatomy of prison escape is the sound of the guard's soles approaching up the stairs. Otherwise, it’s a stripped-down procedural porn of unnecessary emotions, which certain enthusiasts can derive just as much pleasure from as when Llewelyn Moss makes a hook out of coat hangers to pull the money bag from the motel vent. Although mommies didn’t see it, Andy Dufresne definitely watched it, and perhaps even Tango and Cash did too, if only out of the corners of their eyes. (04/04/2023)

Prison Break French style, and incredibly realistic. The intimate narrative may be as cold as a penguin’s butt, and the supporting characters seem like mere necessary backdrops in their behaviour and speech, but as a depiction of real, depressing events I believed it. Sometimes there is strength in simplicity, and this classic film, although not among the most typical representatives of this saying, is an example of it. 70% (07/07/2014)

An extremely interesting film, which is very calm in its execution, despite being about a prison escape. Its poetics make it a film noir, but one without action, and it is very slow-paced. But that doesn't matter at all, because watching everything unfold through the eyes of the one trying to escape creates enough tension, along with strong, emotional moments. Even without music. It can be done if you want to; you just need to understand the film and its possibilities. (08/01/2015)