Le petit soldat 1963
The politically charged film takes place during the Algerian war for independence from France. The setting is Geneva, and introduces us to Bruno Forestier (Michel Subor), a Frenchman who has deserted the army he was in, now making a living as a newspaper photographer. He also does work for an underground organization with anti-Algerian leanings based out of Switzerland. He's also very much in love with a beautiful Russian woman named Veronica Dreyer (Anna Karina, in her debut role). When this group asks him to assassinate a radio host with Algerian sympathies, he gets caught in the middle and is captured and then tortured by his own team, men who now suspect him as working as a double agent.

It was filmed in 1960 but banned in France for three years due to the French film censorship because of its references to the Algerian War for independence from France and its scenes of torture. It was finally released slightly cut.

Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Cast: Anna Karina, Michel Subor, Henri-Jacques Huet, Laszlo Szabo
Country: France
Genre: War, Drama


BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:28:24 | 32.3 Gb + 6.38 Gb + 3% rec
Language: Francais
Subtitles: English

Extras:

Jean-Luc Godard - presented here is a segment from an archival interview with Jean-Luc Godard in which the director quickly addresses the negative critical reception of Le Petit Soldat. The interview was conducted in 1965. In French, with optional English subtitles. (7 min, 1080i).

Michel Subor - in this archival interview, actor Michel Subor discusses his involvement with Le Petit Soldat, and specifically the shooting of the graphic interrogation, as well as Jean-Luc Godard's directing methods. There are also a few interesting comments about the banning of the film. The interview was conducted in 1963. In French, with optional English subtitles. (14 min, 1080i).

Gideon Bachmann and Jean-Luc Godard - in this archival audio interview, Jean-Luc Godard discusses his career as a critic and filmmaker, the production of Le Petit Soldat and the then-current trends in French cinema. The interview was conducted by critic Gideon Bachmann in 1961. In English, not subtitled. (30 min, 1080p).