MovieChat Forums > Le trou (1997) Discussion > Favourite Improvisation

Favourite Improvisation


Not only is this a truly engrossing film, that deserves numerous repeat viewings, not least because of the inconclusive ending & the meticulous mechanics behind the escape attempt; but another aspect that I really enjoyed were the numerous improvisations from the prisoners, most of them coming from Roland: not surprising given that he has already escaped 3 times previously.

The "periscope" made from a mirror shard & brush handle, was simple, and yet so effective; also the make-shift generic key made from some scrap metal; the make-shift "hammer" taken from the metal bed frame; the spoon handle for lifting up the floorboards; the glass bottles made into an hourglass; the metal drinking cups used as rubble scoops; the "puppets" with moving limbs... and many others I can't recall at present.

But I think my favourite "improv" invention, is the scene that involves our prisoners' cell and the two cells either side of it; and the method of transferring a package from one cell to the other using pieces of rope, dead-weights & a couple of handbrushes via the barred cell windows. Ingenius!!

What is your favourite?











...but what I know about is Texas; and down here, you're on your own!

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The glass-bottles hourglass (did you hear the Church bells btw? ;-)

Listen to your enemy, for God is talking

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Yes, I did, finally! Although I did have to turn up the volume a touch because the bells were so faint to mu ageing ears :)







...but what I know about is Texas; and down here, you're on your own!

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the scene that involves our prisoners' cell and the two cells either side of it; and the method of transferring a package from one cell to the other using pieces of rope, dead-weights & a couple of handbrushes via the barred cell windows. Ingenius!!
Mine is the same. It is as you say ingenious. 
A bird sings and the mountain's silence deepens.

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What's inconclusive about the ending? Gaspar talks and they get caught. THE END

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In fact we do something similar today in prison. We call it fishing in which we tie up a bed sheet and throw it thru the bars of our cell to the next cell over and we use it to drag whatever item we are getting from our neighbor. There's lots of little things like that prisoners use in lieu of the real things. You'd be amazed at the ingenuity. I certainly was when I first went to prison!

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