The Hole (1960 film)

The Hole (original French title: Le Trou) is a 1960 French crime film directed by Jacques Becker. Based on the 1957 novel of the same name by José Giovanni, the film depicts a meticulously planned prison escape. Notably, the film features mostly non-professional actors, several of whom were actual former convicts or prison guards, lending a sense of realism to the portrayal of prison life.

The plot centers on Gaspard Claude, a prisoner recently transferred to a cell already occupied by four other inmates: Manu Borelli, Roland Darbant, Geo Cassine, and Vossellin. Gaspard soon learns that these men are in the midst of carefully plotting an elaborate escape route through the prison's infrastructure. As trust develops, they cautiously include Gaspard in their plan, despite the inherent risks involved in sharing such sensitive information with a newcomer.

The film is highly regarded for its realistic depiction of the mundane details and painstaking labor involved in a prison escape. It avoids romanticizing prison life, instead focusing on the practical challenges and psychological tensions that arise from prolonged confinement and the constant threat of discovery. The Hole is considered a classic of French cinema and a significant contribution to the prison escape film genre. Jacques Becker died shortly after completing the film.