Le Crabe-tambour
| 1977
War / Drama |
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Credits Director: Pierre
SchoendoerfferScript: Jean-François Chauvel and Pierre Schoendoerffer, d’après le roman de Pierre Schoendoerffer Photo: Raoul Coutard Music: Philippe Sarde Cast: Jean Rochefort (Le commandant), Claude Rich (Le médecin, Pierre), Aurore Clément (Aurore), Jacques Dufilho (le chef mécanicien), Jacques Perrin (le lieutenant Wilsdorf, dit 'le Crabe-Tambour'), Madame (Odile Versois), L'enseigne (Morgan-Jones), L'officier de pêche (Hubert Laurent) Runtime: 120 min Aka: Drummer-Crab Summary A naval vessel is crossing the inhospitable arctic seas,
heading for
New Foundland to assist trawlers in their work. On board, the
commander and his doctor, both nearing the end of their careers,
reminisce on past military adventures. They recall an enigmatic
naval hero, Wilsdorf, nicknamed “Crab-Drum”, whose exploits in Algeria
and Indochina have passed into legend.
Review This distinctive and haunting portrait of military life was
directed by
Pierre Schoendoerffer, a filmmaker with a particular interest in the
lives of soldiers and sailors. Treating his subject with great
respect and sympathy, Schoendoerffer adds a note of irony and
sadness. He skilfully avoids glorifying war, yet his films
are poignant, emotionally tense, and also curiously cold and
distant. Le Crabe-tambour
is among his best work, thanks largely
to some extraordinary camera work from Raoul Coutard (a key figure in
the French New Wave) which masterfully conveys both a sense of awesome
scale and also great intimacy. The film is also worth
noting for its exemplary acting, with a particularly memorable
performance from Jean Rochefort. © James Travers 2005 
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