The winner of the 1976 Oscar for Best Foreign Film, this first feature from Annaud (THE NAME OF THE ROSE) is set in a French colonial outpost in 1915.
When Spiesser, a conscientious young geologist, writes home to Paris to lament the "dangers" of Africa (chief among which is boredom), he begs for newspapers and books from home. Some time later the papers arrive, bringing the news--six months late--that France is at war with Germany. This poses a
bit of a problem at the outpost for a number of reasons: the colonists are friendly with a group of neighboring Germans; their commander, Carmet, has never been in battle; and they have no trained army. Rising to the cha...
Released:
1976
Rated:
PG
Length:
100 mins