The second “best war movie of all time” is streaming on both Apple TV and Amazon Prime right now. A Man Escaped, originally released in 1957, is a war action film based on the writings of French Resistance fighter and POW André Devigny.
The film’s synopsis reads: “Fontaine (François Leterrier) is being held by the Nazis at Fort Montluc. When he gets word that he’s scheduled for execution, Fontaine channels his energy into hatching a plan to break out.
“His plan is interrupted when he is assigned a new roommate. Fontaine grudgingly brings the newcomer in on the escape effort, which involves homespun weapons and an intricate knowledge of the layout of the prison itself.”
A Man Escaped was directed by Robert Bresson and stars François Leterrier, Charles Le Clainche, Maurice Beerblock and Roland Monod.
Rotten Tomatoes critics award the film with a perfect 100% score and place it second on its list Best War Movies of All Time, with one reviewer labelling it a “masterpiece”.
The reviewer continued: “Bresson’s masterpiece is still a pinnacle in French cinema.”
“Robert Bresson was one of the most original and influential filmmakers in cinema history. A Man Escaped is an exhibition of his unique style and approach,” another added.
The critics consensus reads: “A Man Escaped is blockbuster Bresson, a well-acted POW drama that builds with subtle, seat-gripping tension.”
The audience gave it a stellar 93% rating with one fan writing in his review: “A towering achievement in world cinema, a film that transcends its wartime setting to speak to the timeless struggles and triumphs of the human spirit.
“With its mesmerising visuals, haunting score, and profound thematic depth, it is a work of art that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.”
“The harsh realities of World War 2 prisons and an edge of the seat prison escape story. This movie is a classic by Robert Bresson,” another added.
A Man Escaped is available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.