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The Hole

The Hole

1960
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 11m
Four convicts in a French prison share a single cell. As all are incarcerated for serious crimes, including, perhaps, execution, they decide to escape and have collected materials for the purpose. Before they can begin carrying out their carefully prepared plan, another inmate is moved to their cell... (imdb)

Directed by:

Jacques Becker

Screenwriter:

Jacques Becker, Jean Aurel, José Giovanni

Starring:

Paul Pavel, Marc Michel, Philippe Leroy, Michel Constantin, Jean Keraudy, Raymond Meunier, André Bervil, Gérard Hernandez, Philippe Dumat, Jean Luisi, Jean-Paul Coquelin

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime

AKA:

Le Trou

Countries:

France, Italy

Language:

French
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The Hole

1960
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 11m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 82.8% from 1036 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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nathan_sNathan S
Rated 05 Mar 2010
5
93rd
Comparisons to A Man Escaped are inevitable, but where Bresson is a spiritualist, Becker is an anthropologist. Le Trou's companion piece is Dassin's Rififi, a similarly exhaustive dwelling on the details of labor, behavior, and camaraderie. As a stylist, Becker is soft-spoken and nearly invisible; the tedious passages of time and stifling of small spaces speak for themselves. It's a meticulous and captivating tension.
Rated 05 Mar 2010
payenspayens
Rated 05 Jul 2014
84
75th
Clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, thump!, thump!, clang!, clang!, clang!, clang!, THUMP!, THUMP! clang!, clang!, clang!, thump! CLANG!
Rated 05 Jul 2014
kasperlKasperL
Rated 13 Aug 2011
95
99th
The definition of uncompromising. Some will find the slow, lengthy takes uninteresting but Becker's stylistic approach is brilliant. Confined with the prisoners always, following the execution of their plan in painstakingly minute detail, we take part in the group's troubles, completely invested. The casting of non-actors adds to an already tremendously high level of realism and the intensity of some scenes is almost unbearable. Many great shots and a beautifully pulled off ending seal the deal.
Rated 13 Aug 2011
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
92nd
A very gripping prison escape flick, a genre I usually enjoy a lot, with a bit of social commentary thrown in. Really good, maintains the tension throughout. And what an ending!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
jimmy_suedeJimmy Suede
Rated 29 Apr 2018
100
99th
Wow, I feel the blisters on my hands just watching them dig. Beautifully and effectively shot, nice detail, and Jacques Becker takes his time to mold a mood. To top it off, the ending is brilliant. Le Trou is a cool, authentic-feeling movie, and makes me glad for classic European fare. First movie in a long time to get a 100 from me.
Rated 29 Apr 2018
sebbysebby
Rated 16 Apr 2011
96
99th
Might be the greatest prison film.
Rated 16 Apr 2011
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 01 Sep 2010
80
81st
Haven't seen a lot of prison escape films, but Le Trou seemed pretty grounded and was interesting throughout and at times tense as hell. I liked the long takes of the repetitive actions needed to attempt the escape, leading to great moments like the scouting of the pitch-black tunnels. Great and painful to watch ending as well.
Rated 01 Sep 2010
icarusIcarus
Rated 07 Mar 2010
95
96th
Fantastic! Becker's astute observation, impressive use of space, expertly framed shots, and dynamic use of sound make for a tense and dramatic prison break film that will draw inevitable comparisons to Bresson's magnificent A Man Escaped. Both Becker and Bresson interest themselves in the tangible details of the work, but while Bresson's film remains largely interior, Becker's works on a communal level, adding a layer of concern around the issue of trust that works well for a film like this.
Rated 07 Mar 2010
p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 22 Jun 2015
88
97th
So simple... so amazing!
Rated 22 Jun 2015
troothTrooth
Rated 09 Dec 2013
80
82nd
This is another very methodical sort of prison break movie, similar to something like A Man Escaped. There's something weirdly hypnotic about just watching these guys pound and chip away at the floor of their cell. But despite its simple, straightforward appearance, it still delivers a powerful and somewhat unexpected ending.
Rated 09 Dec 2013
austerlitzAusterlitZ
Rated 06 May 2012
90
96th
Jacques Becker's fascinating portrait of life in prison.The film amazes the viewer with it's starkness and simplicity.It is a moral tale,told without preconceptions or illusions of grandeur.The escape sequence is unique in movie history because of it's simplicity and length,keeping you griped to the image for long gruesome minutes,almost feeling the sweet of the characters dripping from your brow.A must see!!!
Rated 06 May 2012
jodamicojodamico
Rated 14 Sep 2011
85
95th
Physically exhausting. The command of small details - from the dirt around the hole to the way Geo fixes Claude's collar when he goes to see the warden - is extraordinary.
Rated 14 Sep 2011
simpliciosimplicio
Rated 20 Sep 2010
95
98th
Relentless and riveting. That long long take hammering at the floor, all in and damn the consequences, coming up for the hand-offs like surfacing for air and then submerging again: phenomenal. Fearless and terrifying sound design complements the paranoia of the breakout perfectly. This, like Rififi, is all about the WORK of the steal, but the camaraderie here is far more effective and the characters more interesting, all setting up the ending to be so shattering. Poor Gaspard, truly.
Rated 20 Sep 2010
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 28 May 2010
94
98th
Excellent prison escape film that uses its pace to build up tension to a fantastic climax. The performances, like the direction, are not flashy but they're very effective and appropriate. I could come with a few small complaints but the whole completely overshadows them.
Rated 28 May 2010
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 02 Mar 2007
3
38th
Trying and tedious at times, but usually fantastically tense and very enjoyable and creative in how it depicts the tricks of the trade. I've always liked movies with men skilled in unique trades, and I dig escape flicks too. This combines the two extremely well. And damn, that ending.
Rated 02 Mar 2007
neurophateneurophate
Rated 24 Nov 2019
86
88th
It was the best prison break themed movie I've seen, and with that backstory I appreciate it even more. The lack of music and the natural play of the actors adds points to this film, and whoa! That ending.
Rated 24 Nov 2019
geohawkgeohawk
Rated 13 Nov 2017
93
88th
Based on a true story (and starring one of the original participants!), the attention to detail in this makes this one of the most oppressive prison escape movies I've ever seen.
Rated 13 Nov 2017
st_bernaSt. Berna
Rated 06 Sep 2014
97
98th
FUCK
Rated 06 Sep 2014
hadleyreisHadleyreis
Rated 25 Jan 2014
81
79th
If you enjoy watching men dig holes, this is everything you could want.
Rated 25 Jan 2014
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 29 Jul 2013
75
89th
Excellent.
Rated 29 Jul 2013
hajikarimihajikarimi
Rated 03 Jan 2012
95
91st
good job! Real prison break!
Rated 03 Jan 2012
forresterForrester
Rated 07 Nov 2011
90
91st
One of the best prison escape films I've ever seen. I never thought it would be so exciting to see a group of prisoners digging tunnels. The lack of music makes the film suspenseful and gives it a very realistic feel. I really had the feeling like I was there with the prisoners, and you really hope they succeed in digging the tunnel without the guards noticing. The ending was a shocker and I'm still in awe of it.
Rated 07 Nov 2011
dean_franzDean Franz
Rated 19 Sep 2011
98
95th
So God damn awesome I don't know what to do with myself. Becker strips away everything that isn't necessary (confining long stretches of the film to a tiny, little cell) but he needles incessantly at the minutiae of the escape so that we grasp how crucial every little detail is. The result is, quite simply, the best prison break movie ever.
Rated 19 Sep 2011
guyevertonguyeverton
Rated 26 Oct 2024
87
79th
Am I the only one to read a homoerotic undertone to this movie? Either way, it felt like a documentary about Roland's expertise, all horny hands and rolled up sleeves, dust and filings and closeups of a lot of hard yakka. A simple plot, but fantastically done; my one reservation is that everything in the prison seemed a bit nice. I wonder if I'd have bothered to escape at all from a world of such cameraderie, homemade jam, smoked eel and saucisson.
Rated 26 Oct 2024
adragon91ADragon91
Rated 15 May 2023
70
69th
It’s good, but nothing mindblowing. I think they actually showed way too much planning and execution here to pad out the running time, and the guards were surprisingly easy to evade and get around without much of a problem. Nicely shot and executed on a technical level.
Rated 15 May 2023
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 05 Jan 2023
78
66th
This is very good but I didn't quite find it as brilliant as others have. Some of the digging scenes go on pretty long and I thought it was a bit uneven, though I was never really bored. I liked the characterizations. It's hard not to compare it to A Man Escaped--I liked this one a bit more. A very good film, though perhaps could have been a little tighter. Ending is really good.
Rated 05 Jan 2023
heynicefilmHeyNiceFilm
Rated 09 Aug 2022
75
39th
The inmates are buddy buddy with the guards and bffs with the warden? No one is ever handcuffed and are able to walk around freely? WTF? Not sure if this is accurate to 50s Paris, but it took me out of the story a bit. That aside, the plot is solid. It starts off a bit slow. but it picks up towards the end. This could have been a stage play and it feels very much like a Twilight Zone episode for some reason, minus any weird or paranormal stuff. Slow burn. Mostly leans on the acting to carry.
Rated 09 Aug 2022
maxmodemaxmode
Rated 29 Mar 2022
100
95th
A well-constructed and detailed film about inmates trying to escape. Despite focusing on the details of the escape, the script has enough nuance to show the characters' motivations and their conflicts, especially towards the end.
Rated 29 Mar 2022
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 05 Nov 2021
71
40th
A lack of sensationalism and focus on the.... professionalism? of the prisoners' diligence mark this spare and understated prison escape drama - invites comparisons to RIFIFI in its burrowing in of the details of the "too simple to fail" escape plan, but lacks the "heart" of the earlier film, making the admittedly impressive gut-punch of a finale feel somewhat muted. Stoic, believable performances from the cast are offset by sometimes contrived and unconvincing moments forming the escape plans.
Rated 05 Nov 2021
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
99
99th
10???????????????????????????????????????????????/???????/???????????????
Rated 06 Aug 2021
doyler29doyler29
Rated 15 Mar 2021
90
87th
Guilty or not, what's of the utmost importance is not giving yourself over to imprisonment.
Rated 15 Mar 2021
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 08 Jan 2021
90
96th
Together with A Man Escaped and Rififi, perhaps the ultimate trio of methodological crime films. Every prolonged shot of chiseling cement, filing metal, walking through corridors, and looking through peepholes builds tension, not because you fear a sudden twist, but because the stakes of the prison break are inherently exciting, and Becker is squeezing every bit of potential out of the idea. The one shot at the end (you know the one) made my heart drop like a rock.
Rated 08 Jan 2021
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 06 Dec 2020
9
90th
Treading a fine line between documentary and fiction and told in a remarkably simple fashion, Jacques Becker's Le Trou tells the endlessly gripping account of 5 inmates carrying out what seems like the perfectly executed prison break. The obsessive attention to detail and convincing portrayals are what drew me in and kept me hooked, yet it's the fittingly crushing ending that gives the film its lasting impact.
Rated 06 Dec 2020
sellissellis
Rated 25 Sep 2020
92
92nd
The chipping, scraping, and brushing away of concrete and stone induces a trance-like state. There’s an understated coolness of the chemistry between cell mates and co-conspirators, whom we only know through idiosyncrasies and general disposition. There’s tragedy in the hundreds of hours of hard work being wiped away in an instant. Excellent filmmaking.
Rated 25 Sep 2020
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 19 Mar 2020
90
87th
A Um Passo da Liberdade estreava há 60 anos na França. É de fato um excelente filme, mas não tem como não comparar com o que o Bresson fez com Um Condenado à Morte Escapou, este não só melhor filme francês de fuga, como bem da história do cinema mundial, tendo também sido inspirado em um fato real, aqui pelo menos encontramos um dos maiores canalhas do polar, mas meu Becker favorito ainda é Touchez Pas au Grisbi. Box Versátil Filme Noir Francês Volume 3.
Rated 19 Mar 2020
oskarhuoskarhu
Rated 13 Jan 2020
89
96th
Aesthetically pure and genius in its restrained manner of sustaining tension. Excellent as a whole, but full of details that, though overtly intentional, provide constant spark to a enjoyable yet gritty watching experience.
Rated 13 Jan 2020
skapskap
Rated 20 May 2018
95
83rd
The cellmates in this movie are so heartfelt and kind, much better (as human beings) that any law respecting citizens I know. To the point that it's a bit ridiculous. But in fact it works well, at least for me. The movie has a cosy feeling, that is the quality I appreciate in movies the most. It is also brilliant in all other respects (cinematography, screenplay, acting, you name it). A masterpiece.
Rated 20 May 2018
toddsaltertoddsalter
Rated 28 Dec 2017
91
80th
I was rooting for them! Nicely done movie. Great attention to detail but not at a hurried pace. And all without a soundtrack.
Rated 28 Dec 2017
bolivarbolivar
Rated 01 Nov 2017
85
96th
methodological and claustrophobic. mesmerizing long and repetitive scenes without any soundtrack ruining the tension.
Rated 01 Nov 2017
obtiosovobtiosov
Rated 19 Oct 2016
94
95th
As good as a prison escape movie can get. Slow-burn pace and the details are impressive.
Rated 19 Oct 2016
pyrosexualpyrosexual
Rated 17 Oct 2016
55
8th
Very frustrating to watch these whiny french guys gripe about getting their homemade rice pudding inspected before being allowed to have it given the conditions of modern American prisons. I found it impossible to sympathize or care about anything these guys were doing.
Rated 17 Oct 2016
marazimarazi
Rated 29 May 2016
100
98th
great
Rated 29 May 2016
armilioArmilio
Rated 26 Apr 2016
75
79th
Probably the best "escape from prison" film that i ever seen. You can feel the tension trough the fatigue and the effort that these prisoners put in their excaping plan. Undercurrent flows a very leftist "working class vs priviligated class" theme.
Rated 26 Apr 2016
djrossdjross
Rated 13 Feb 2016
72
82nd
Pretty good prison movie.
Rated 13 Feb 2016
qwershadyqwershady
Rated 04 Dec 2015
84
96th
poor fuckin g*
Rated 04 Dec 2015
caffecaffe
Rated 06 Sep 2015
89
93rd
So it's becoming increasingly clear that for a period of about ten years, the French were the supreme masters at creating tension. Never mind that Hitchcock was alive and working at the same time.
Rated 06 Sep 2015
staryarabbistaryarabbi
Rated 13 Jan 2015
80
79th
The 4 minutes-long shot when they started to dig is a very hypnotic one. But after all life is a big prison, you can't escape.
Rated 13 Jan 2015
thereeldealthereeldeal
Rated 07 Jan 2015
85
91st
Le Trou is practically an illustrated guide on a prison break. The vast majority of the film's attention is on the plan to escape itself, and it's easy to admire the amount of work that goes into it. Seeing all this effort done slowly in real-time allows for better empathy for the prisoners, and once you start rooting for them is when you'll be sucked in by the delicate situation of every scene until you're at the edge of your seat. Great characterization done more through actions than words.
Rated 07 Jan 2015
luxnatalisLuxNatalis
Rated 05 Nov 2014
87
97th
One of the best prison movies and yet not very well known. Highly recommended for all prison movie lovers.
Rated 05 Nov 2014
meltemcilikmeltemcilik
Rated 26 Mar 2014
70
74th
a good start, bad final.
Rated 26 Mar 2014
mb9607mb9607
Rated 23 Jan 2014
80
0th
2x
Rated 23 Jan 2014
comepeliculacomepelicula
Rated 23 Jul 2013
80
87th
This is a different movie, the pacing is very slow but never boring and it keeps building up tension, very engaging. The acting is great and you really connect and care for the characters. One of the best prison movies out there.
Rated 23 Jul 2013
nepetaNepeta
Rated 24 Feb 2013
85
80th
This is just absurdly tense at times, an absolutely riveting prison escape film. There are a couple bits which push believability a tad, but for the most part I loved it.
Rated 24 Feb 2013
glmglm
Rated 18 Jul 2012
95
99th
94.875
Rated 18 Jul 2012
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 02 Dec 2011
62
24th
#769
Rated 02 Dec 2011
synthonosynthono
Rated 12 Nov 2011
81
51st
Sometimes a bit too dedicated to realism - while I recognize that tedious digging was a pretty key component to the escape attempt, it doesn't exactly make for an engaging film experience - but overall it manages the tension, camaraderie and precision of a prison escape well. Also a great use of negative space.
Rated 12 Nov 2011
td888td888
Rated 10 Sep 2011
70
76th
Not an fan of old and black/white movies, but this one is a must see. Great watch.
Rated 10 Sep 2011
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 08 Aug 2011
72
54th
hapishane, kacis, ispiyon (ayni hücrede kalan dört arkadas kacis plani yaparken besinci mahkumda ayni hücreye gelir incelikli bir planla cikis bulunur.)
Rated 08 Aug 2011
wrexsolwrexsol
Rated 21 Mar 2011
92
61st
A film about escaping from prison. Its claim to fame is the lack of any sort of score to add atmosphere to the digging scenes. This is fine, it definitely dials up the tension with some of the cinematic trickery that was used. You always strain your ear for some distant footsteps, hoping in vain to spot the patrols first. It's quite effective.
Rated 21 Mar 2011
prismaticPrismatic
Rated 27 Aug 2010
97
94th
This is the way that prison movies should be made. Ingenuity over recalcitrant self-pity.
Rated 27 Aug 2010
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 15 Jan 2010
63
26th
736
Rated 15 Jan 2010
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
64
28th
721
Rated 19 Dec 2008
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 02 Mar 2008
63
40th
# 745
Rated 02 Mar 2008
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 30 Jun 2007
68
70th
It may not be the best escape flick ever, but it may well be the cleverest. It also has its very tense moments and some that are truly thoughtful. Indeed, it can be trying watching some of the more repetitive tasks that the convicts must do en route to freedom, but if truth be told, it's more realistic that way.
Rated 30 Jun 2007

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