The Big Hit * * * ½

So we spend all day waiting? What the hell kind of play is that!

 Another one from the French Film Festival.

At times inspiring and at times annoying.  I just wish it had played less for laughs.  I've never seen such a happy prison drama. Prison is brutal, but you wouldn't know it by this film.

On the other side, it's thrilling.  As part of a rehabilitation program, prisoners can volunteer to participate in drama.  A volunteer drama teacher decides "Waiting For Godot" would be the play for them. He's right.  The situation, the language, the existential desperation makes it the perfect drama.  Although they have never acted before they take to it with enthusiasm and commitment.

The performance becomes famous and they are actually allowed out to perform it in theatres around the country. Doing a play about eternal captivity they suddenly taste freedom. How ironic. Is that something they should take advantage of?

It's a true story.  I think it would have been a better film if the tone was a serious drama and less of an easy going story, but its well worth a viewing.