History Film / BeauTravail

* AmbiguouslyGay: One of the driving questions of the film is whether or not Galoup's feelings toward Sentain cross over into romantic, especially considering he already has a girlfriend named Rahel but is continuously drawn to him.

-->-- '''Galoup on his Commandant, Bruno'''

** It's also mentioned that Bruno has been dogged by unspecified "rumors," implying this about him, as well.

The film is oft regarded by critics as one of the greatest films of all time and is no. 78 on the 2012 Sight and Sound Critic's Poll.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Galoup regards the beauty and precision of military exercises to be a mark of their quality as a soldier, which is what sparks his {{envy}} in Sentain.

* TheQuietOne: Sentain has an aspect of this in his character. It probably enforces Galoup's perception of strength in him and his subsequent {{Envy}}.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Ultimately unable to confront his feelings for Sentain, Galoup projects his inner turmoil onto him and sets out to "destroy" him by deliberately getting him lost in the desert. While he and his men presume him dead, he's actually narrowly rescued by a group of tribespeople, and we see him slowly being nursed back to health. Regardless, this move costs Galoup his position in the Foreign Legion, and to him it means he has lost everything, and his suicide is heavily implied. However, the last image we see of him, detailed in GainaxEnding below, could represent him finally finding a way to release his guilt and repressed emotions.]]

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Galoup's excuse for effectively sending [[spoiler:Sentain]] to his death.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Galoup in the "present day", likely for being [[spoiler:CourtMartialed and having sent Gilles to his death.]]

The film centers on the master sergeant Galoup (played by Creator/DenisLavant) recalling via voiceover his memories of being stationed in Djibouti with a group of Foreign French Legion soldiers. As the soldiers train diligently in the harsh elements, one of the new recruits under his command -- the promising young Gilles Sentain (played by Gregoire Colin) -- catches Galoup's eye. Winning over the whole group with his strong work ethic and enigmatic personality, Galoup struggles to make sense of what Sentain means to him, whether through a perceived [[GreenEyedMonster envy-driven]] rivalry, or [[AmbiguouslyGay another kind of connection]]...

* DisproportionateRetribution: Galoup [[spoiler:orders a soldier who simply went off to piss to dig a hole in the desert until his hands bleed.]]

* GainaxEnding: [[spoiler:Galoup makes his bed and lies in it, looking forlorn and holding a gun. It's heavily implied that he's about to commit suicide...and then the end credits show him doing a chaotic freestyle dance number on a club floor. Whether it's a DyingDream or took place sometime in the past is never explained.]]

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Galoup's excuse for effectively sending [[spoiler:Gilles]] to his death.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Galoup regards the beauty and precision of military exercises to be a mark of their quality as a soldier, which is what sparks his {{Envy}} in Sentain.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Ultimately unable to confront his feelings on Sentain, Galoup projects his inner turmoil onto him and sets out to "destroy" him by deliberately getting him lost in the desert. While he and his men presume him dead, he's actually narrowly rescued by a group of tribespeople, and we see him slowly being nursed back to health. Regardless, this move costs Galoup his position in the Foreign Legion, and to him it means he has lost everything, and his suicide is heavily implied. However, the last image we see of him, detailed in GainaxEnding below, could represent him finally finding a way to release his guilt and repressed emotions.]]

----

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Ultimately unable to confront his feelings on Sentain, Galoup projects his inner turmoil onto him and sets out to "destroy" him by deliberately getting him lost in the desert. While he and his men presume him dead, he's actually narrowly rescued by a group of tribespeople, and we see him slowly being nursed back to health. Regardless, this move costs Galoup his position in the Foreign Legion, and to him it means he has lost everything, and his suicide is heavily implied. However, the last image we see of him, detailed in GainaxEnding below, could represent him finally finding a way to release his repressed emotions.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Ultimately unable to confront his feelings on Sentain, Galoup projects his inner turmoil onto him and sets out to "destroy" him by deliberately getting him lost in the desert. While he and his men presume him dead, he's actually narrowly rescued by a group of tribespeople, and we see him slowly being nursed back to health. However, this move costs Galoup his position in the Foreign Legion, and to him it means he has lost everything. Even with the last we see of him, detailed in GainaxEnding below, it could represent him finally releasing his repressed emotions.]]

The film centers on the master sergeant Galoup (played by Creator/DenisLavant) recalling via voiceover his memories of being stationed in Djibouti with a group of Foreign French Legion soldiers. As the soldiers train diligently in the harsh elements, one of the new recruits under his command -- the promising young Gilles Sentain (played by Gregoire Colin) -- catches Galoup's eye. Winning over the whole group with his strong work ethic and enigmatic personality, Galoup struggles to make sense of his connection to Sentain, whether through a perceived [[GreenEyedMonster envy-driven]] rivalry, or [[AmbiguouslyGay something more...]]

->''l admired him without knowing why.''
->''He knew l was a perfect Legionnaire,''

* AFatherToHisMen: Mostly Bruno (Creator/MichelSubor) towards Galoup, but also to a lesser extent Galoup towards his men.

''Beau Travail'' is a 1999 French film directed by Creator/ClaireDenis and loosely based on the novel ''Literature/BillyBudd''. The film centers on a master sergeant Galoup (played by Creator/DenisLavant) and his memories of being stationed in Dijibouti with a group of Foreign French Legion soldiers. The soldiers train diligently in the harsh elements and Galoup forms an envious, perceived rivalry with one of the soldiers under his command - Gilles (played by Creator/GregoireColin).

The film is oft regarded by critics as one of the greatest films of all time and is no. 78 on the 2012 Sight and Sound Critic's Poll. [[http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/sightandsoundpoll2012/critics]]

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: Galoup regards the beauty and precision of military exercises to be a mark of their quality as a soldier, which is what sparks his {{Envy}} in Gilles.

* DrivenByEnvy: Galoup, and also possibly Gilles.
* GainaxEnding: Galoup [[spoiler:is lying in bed, looking forlorn and holding a gun. It's heavily implied that he's about to commit suicide... and then the end credits show him doing a freestyle dance number on a club floor.]]

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Galoup in the "present day"., likely for being [[spoiler:CourtMartialed and having sent Gilles to his death.]]
* TheQuietOne: Giles has an aspect of this in his character. It probably enforces Galoup's perception of strength in him and his subsequent {{Envy}}.
* RatedMForManly: This film breathes masculinity, and is perhaps the central theme.
* SceneryPorn: The arid, salty landscape of Djibouti which is contrasted with mountain planes and the sea.

''Beau Travail'' is a 1999 French film directed by Creator/ClaireDans and loosely based on the novel ''Literature/BillyBudd''. The film centers on a master sergeant Galoup (played by Creator/DenisLavant) and his memories of being stationed in Dijibouti with a group of Foreign French Legion soldiers. The soldiers train diligently in the harsh elements and Galoup forms an envious, perceived rivalry with one of the soldiers under his command - Gilles (played by Creator/GregoireColin).

Beau Travail is a French movie directed by Creator/ClaireDans which is based on the book Literature/BillyBudd. The film centers on a master sergeant Galoup (played by Creator/DenisLavant) and his memories of being stationed in

Dijibouti with a group of Foreign French Legion soldiers. The soldiers train diligently in the harsh elements and Galoup forms an envious, perceived rivalry with one of the soldiers under his command - Gilles (played by Creator/GregoireColin).

* WeAreStrugglingTogether: Galoup vs. his men towards the end of the film.