3. Beau Travail
Claire Denis' sparse, sun-drenched drama draws to a close in spectacular fashion. Having been discharged from the French Foreign Legion, former sergeant Galoup (Denis Lavant) stands alone in a nightclub we'd previously seen in the first act. With his hunched shoulders and hangdog sneer, he resembles a moodier Nick Cave (if such a thing were possible). And then the music plays. At first, Galoup marks the beginning of Corona's 'Rhythm of the Night' with a simple, understated drag on his cigarette. Then, slowly, he steps forward, resting one hand on the mirrored wall. He crouches, he spins, he steals your attention. But what began as a lithe and languid ballet soon becomes a frenetic, air-punching celebration that has left many a viewer puzzled as to what it all means. While some see suicide, others see rebirth. But everyone can agree on one thing: that Lavant's one hell of a dancer. Even more incredibly, the entire dance was performed in a single take. Beau travail, indeed.