Henri Serre

Decades of a love triangle concerning two friends and an impulsive woman.

All too little known today, Le combat dans l'île subtly evokes a divided marriage -- not unusual in French films -- and a divided nation -- but not divided as seen in the then-dominant Nouvelle Vague. Political assassinations (the attempts on DeGaulle reached double figures), underground extreme right-wing groups, even international, right-wing fugitives -- producer Louis Malle was clearly making a political statement distinct from that of his New Wave confrères. (filmforum.org)

Alex, entered the Legion to escape a debt owed to the Corsican Mafia ... 4 years later, Alex deserts and returns to Marseille to find Katia, his love of youth.