The 317th Platoon

1965 1h 40m FR

👍

7.3

SOLID

★7.3TMDB · 85

WarHistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Laos, 1954, eight days before the french defeat in the Indochina war, the 317th platoon – four french soldiers and 41 laotian combatants – has been ordered to leave its outpost and to retreat for the plains of Diên Biên Phu, where the french army is getting stucked. Led by the inexperienced and idealistic sous-lieutenant Torrens, fresh out of the military academy, and by adjutant Willsdorf, a WWII veteran of the Werhmacht, the group must cross 150 kilometers of jungle. But dripping rainwater, hostile nature, and the Viêt-minh ambushes expose them to constant danger.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Jacques Perrin
Le sous-lieutenant Torrens
Bruno Cremer
L'adjudant Willsdorf
Pierre Fabre
Le sergent Roudier
Manuel Zarzo
Le caporal Perrin
Boramy Tioulong
Le sergent supplétif Ba Kut
Saksi Sbong

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Pierre Schoendoerffer
Writers: Pierre Schoendoerffer
Languages: French, Vietnamese
Countries: France, Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 4.6× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

61 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Vietnamese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Spain.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer, shot by Raoul Coutard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Pierre Jansen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Pierre Schoendoerffer directs. Raoul Coutard behind the camera. Pierre Jansen scores. Armand Psenny cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in France, Spain. Dialogue in French, Vietnamese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $0.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Made its money back 4.6× over at the box office.
361 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
4Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, Vietnamese.
5International production across 2 countries: France, Spain.
6Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
7Directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer, shot by Raoul Coutard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
8Original score by Pierre Jansen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
9Editor Armand Psenny shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
10Jacques Perrin and Bruno Cremer and Pierre Fabre carry the top of the cast.
11IMDB entry: tt0058863 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Only 85 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.