The 317th Platoon

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.

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

Crew

Pierre Schoendoerffer

Director

Pierre Schoendoerffer

Novel

Pierre Schoendoerffer

Screenplay

Georges de Beauregard

Producer

Benito Perojo

Producer

Pierre Jansen

Original Music Composer

Gregorio García Segura

Original Music Composer

Raoul Coutard

Director of Photography

Armand Psenny

Editor

Renée Deschamps

Assistant Editor