Watch The 317th Platoon

Set against the backdrop of the First Indochina War, The 317th Platoon is a gripping war film that highlights the raw emotions and intense pressures faced by a group of six French soldiers tasked with escorting a Vietnamese warlord through the jungle to safety. Directed by Pierre Schoendoerffer, a French veteran of the war, the film takes us on a nail-biting journey through the hostile terrain of Vietnam. The 317th Platoon is a ragtag group consisting of veteran Sergeant Perez (Bruno Cremer), young lieutenant Torrens (Jacques Perrin), and four inexperienced soldiers - the nervous and jumpy radio operator, the earnest and dedicated medic, the sullen and sulky marksman, and the resourceful and street-smart soldier who has survived by his wits.

The platoon's mission is to transport the warlord, who is critical to the French cause, across a perilous jungle heavily controlled by the Viet Minh. Their path is strewn with natural obstacles such as rivers to cross, steep cliffs to negotiate, and dense jungles to navigate. But the platoon's biggest threat comes from the invisible enemy - the Viet Minh, who launch a series of stealthy attacks to ambush and eliminate them.

The film is a vivid portrayal of the terrors and difficulties faced by the soldiers, as they struggle to survive in a hostile environment where trust is scarce, and danger is always lurking around the corner. The film's narrative is built around the platoon's arduous journey, which takes them through swamps plagued by pesky mosquitoes, cliff faces that require numbingly slow and dangerous traverses, and through abandoned villages where they must deal with booby traps.

Throughout their journey, the soldiers are always weary and suspicious of one another, and the only thing that binds them together is the shared desperation to stay alive. As they traverse the jungle, they encounter gruesome sights, such as the decomposed remains of previous soldiers who had met a grisly end in the same hostile environment.

The film is expertly crafted, with the flamboyant cinematography capturing the lush beauty of the forest as well as the morbid horror hidden in its shadows. The shots of the platoon's journey are carefully crafted and give the audience a true sense of the danger that the group is facing. The jungle, although pretty, is a true challenge for the group, with Schoendoerffer's camerawork ensuring that the audience is put in the heart of this challenge with the characters.

The film's characters are expertly defined, especially the two lead characters. Sergeant Perez is a hardened veteran of the French army, who has lost his hope in the war and is resigned to his fate. Despite being one of the older members of the group, Perez's experience is what ultimately saves the group time and time again. On the other hand, Lieutenant Torrens is a young and idealistic man who believes in the honour of the French army. He refuses to give in to the harsh realities of war, even when it becomes apparent that their mission risks leading them all to death.

The 317th Platoon does an excellent job of showing a war film that manages to keep itself focused on the journey of its protagonists. It avoids indulging in cases of derring-do and glory, showcasing the raw emotions and stressed nerves of its characters. Although a lot of the film's dialogue is in French, the masterful cinematography and Schoendorffer's overall direction make sure that the story is still easily understood by international audiences.

In conclusion, The 317th Platoon is an impressive and gripping war film that manages to convey the horrors of war through its immersive cinematography, thoughtful direction and multinational cast. It's not among the most well-known war films, but for those who appreciate such horrors, it is a must-see.

The 317th Platoon is a 1965 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3.