Fort Saganne

Breathtaking images. The vanity of French presence in the Sahara at the beginning of te 20th century well depicted. Sublime crew of actors, every one of them. I was amazed not to have known of this masterpiece long ago.

Based on a real person, grandfather of writer Louis Gardel.

Superb music from the London Symphonic Orchestra.

If you're the type of person who doesn't normally like to sit down and watch a subtitled movie for your evening's entertainment, consider making an exception for Fort Saganne. Take the recommendation from my mom, who usually rolls her eyes and thinks, "A French movie? That means it's going to film a floating balloon for half an hour while a bunch of posers talk about existentialism." Even she was very entertained by this one, and it was three hours long!

Gérard Depardieu stars as a peasant trying to better himself and gain respect through a military career. Although he seems to be earning respect from his superior officer, Philippe Noiret, Philippe merely puts him through difficult missions to try and break his spirit and still shuns him socially. When Gérard and the young, sweet Sophie Marceau start to develop feelings for one another, Sophie's family pulls some strings and has Gérard transferred to the Sahara Desert. The promotional posters, as well as the trailer, for this movie will have you thinking Catherine Deneuve has a prominent part, but she's really only onscreen for twenty minutes. She's very pretty, but she doesn't do much in this one, and Sophie has a larger, more important part.

The focus of this three-hour Four Feathers-esque epic isn't either romance, but instead Gérard's endurance of the desert. If you liked Lawrence of Arabia, you'll love this one. You can truly feel the heat, filth, and sand, and it makes you wonder why every soldier stationed out there didn't lose his mind. At times, though surrounded by miles of open space, it feels like Gérard has been put in prison, with Philippe as his warden. If you really love the desert landscape and could never think of it as a villainous character, you'll probably be awed by Alain Corneau's beautiful direction. Fort Saganne really is a masterpiece, one of the finest representatives of serious French cinema. Even I, who was watching this movie with the sole purpose of drooling over Gérard's extremely handsome face, was able to tear myself away from the view and appreciate the scenery.

Put on your reading glasses and start your movie early tonight so you can stay awake through the whole thing. Alain Corneau's direction is remarkable and ahead of its time, Philippe Sarde's theme is lush and memorable, and you'll get to see Sophie Marceau in only her third movie. And it never hurts to have a handsome man in the lead. Three hours pass in no time when you're looking at Gérard Depardieu.

I've seen this film back in 84 in Geneva. I didn't find it neither played nor talked about ever since and always regretted much that the film is obviously not known at all. I was deeply impressed by the passionate story with large, beautiful images, wonderfully photographed. The length was ok because it was a novel. Depardieu in a role that shows a rare side of him.

This has to be one of my favorite films, sweeping desert scenes, the desert, always the desert. The Compagnies Sahariennes Mehariste in all their glory, battles, last stands, the French officer Saganne easily coming to terms with the harsh desert, later rather unsettled living without it. This is also autobiographical, as mentioned in "France Soldiers And Africa". The loyalty of the native troops is noticeable throughout. The meeting with the looper Capt. Baculard in the depths of the desert is memorable.... Watch out for the the ever dependable NCO Embarek, and his love of the "Aluette" song.. Desert. Colour. Forts, abound, I was not expecting the sweeping movie it is. This could well be the "Far Pavillions" of the French Africa. Look out for Saganne in the hell of the early Western Front, going to the wall map and laying his hand on his beloved West Africa. It is fitting the last scenes are of the desert. I felt drained after letting this film wash over, and carry me along French Colonial West Africa........ This movie is a French love letter to Africa........

The problem with this film is that nothing is left for the viewer to assume, deduce, or imagine. Everything which one might need to know in order to understand the full narrative is shown, in detail - and the audience doesn't need that: as a result the film lasts .... what? two and a half hours? .... at least half an hour of which is certainly dead matter. There are some very impressive incidents, but the impact is muffled. I can't help feeling too, that, given that Corneau seems to want to make the most of his setting and given what that setting is, even the photography represents a wasted opportunity. It's dramatic, but it could have stood you still. Imagination needed!