"Presents" "The 317th Platoon" "Based on the novel with" "written and directed by" "At the beginning of May 1954, Russian, Chinese, Vietminh, British, US  and French delegations arrive in Geneva to prepare the conference about Indochina" "Two months later the armistice is signed" "In Dien-Bien-Phu, this is the 50th day of battle" "The Vietminh go on the offensive all over Indochina" "It will be the last battles of a 9 years old war" "May, the 4th, The North-Cambodia HQ decides to evacuate the isolated camp at Liong-Ba" "And to retreat 150 kms toward the south" "The 317th Platoon has to destroy its installations and trek through the jungle to their base" "Liong-Ba, May 4th 1800 hrs" "Safeties on !" "Roudier is in trouble" "I think it's an ambush" "Look ..." "All the bullets go in the same direction" "No more enemies ..." "No more enemies, maybe ..." "But Roudier shoots a lot" "He can be nervous ..." "No help from the south and the north is crowded with Viets" "Perrin blows up the radio" "Koot, gather the 2 groups" "Yes sir !" "Only this left to drink, lieutenant" "No more ice, too, i disconnected the fridge" "Do you want some ?" "Perrin, you put this in a little bottle and you give it to the doctor" "I said :get your hair cut!" "I know, i know ..." "Cheers to Liong-Ba !" "They killed Gegene" "Ok !" "The deal is :" "First the HQ group followed by you, Koot" "When we meet Roudier, he'll slip between the 2 groups" "Weapons on 'safe', total silence and no cigarettes" "We have to take the fridge !" "What do you think about the fridge ?" "It's no heavier than the radio" "And I put it on a bamboo pole" "We can try to take it" "It's been here longer than you in Liong Ba." "It arrived for Christmas" "Two guys to carry it !" "We have to go !" "It's all ready, chief !" "You think so ?" "What are you hiding ?" "Nothing sir ..." "Well, all bags on the floor !" "They're too heavy." "You can't walk more than 2 kms" "Leave all the shit you don't need!" "First group, go !" "Second group, go !" "Don't shoot!" "It's me, Roudier !" "Sir, my boys are nervous." "I was afraid they'd shoot you" "And all the shooting, 10 minutes ago ?" "Fa-nong bumped into Vietminh" "He says there were a lot of them" "I saw 1 or 2." "We killed one." "Do you want to see the corpse ?" "And the others ?" "Vanished .." " And the body ?" " Right there" " I'm going to use the flashlite" " Ok" "He's dead, alright!" "Yes, it's one of the regular army" "Any identification ?" "Weapons ?" "Nothing but that ..." "A little piece of ..." "Let's go to Tao-Tsay" "Wednesday, May 5th 0530 hrs" "Have a drink ?" "A cigarette would be so good!" "What a country !" "You're right !" "What a country !" "You've only been here 15 days ..." "I like this country" "33 months here, and I don't want to go back to France" "When I leave the army, I'll buy a little house by the river" "Koot'll choose me a girl" "They are so pretty ..." "They look like teenagers" "They have no hair on the body" "An elastic skin" "And no hair ..." "I think I can have a smoke now !" "Vietminh on the track !" "I think they are viets, too" "Give me the binoculars !" "With the sniper rifle, we can kill all of them !" "Not a good idea ..." "Let's try to capture one of them" "Let's go !" "We'll run right to the river !" "Roudier, along the track !" "We'll be on your left to protect the ford" "Koot, stay here !" "Perrin will stay with you." "he's got to make radio contact." "Ok." "But we don't know what there is close to the river" "Be carefull !" "Vietminh, vietminh !" "There they are!" "Pfff ..." "So many !" "A supply convoy" "Quiet, quiet !" "Wait, wait ..." "These 2 guys ..." "They've set up a machine gun" "We've got to get out of here !" "Quick !" "I'll get the machine gun !" "The "potato launcher" !" " Here, sir !" "In that clearing ..." "Fire !" "Missed !" "God !" "They're charging Roudier!" "We're right there in their night camp !" "All their men are going to come now !" "I want to destroy the ..." "We have to retreat NOW !" "Ok" "Tell Roudier" "Do it again !" "I want this machine gun !" "Retreat, retreat !" "Roudier, for fuck sake, retreat !" "Give me the BAR !" "Roudier !" "Quick quick !" "Ammo !" "Come on Roudier !" "What's the matter ?" "Bullet in the belly !" "Help him to Koot by the river" "They're coming !" "50 meters back!" "Retreat along the river !" "Quick, quick !" "Shoot, shoot !" "Shoot !" "Shoot !" "Go, go !" "Quick, quick !" "You dug holes, good !" "Fuck, another load of viets !" "We have to rest a while" "It's an old trick, but it works" "2nd company, fire only on visible targets !" "I think I killed one !" "What were you doing near the river ?" "Well ... i helped Koot ..." "You're not a rifleman, you're a radioman !" "What about Tao-Tsay ?" "There's fighting since midnight" "We have to join Tao-Tsay ASAP" "They think it's the viet's great offensive ..." "No kidding ?" "We can't hang around ..." "They said the rescue column for Dien-Bien-Phu has retreated" "The B26 can help us" "They'll bomb the tracks as soon as the weather clears" "Thanks Perrin ..." "You've lost a lot of blood" " Huh ?" "Look !" "Some morphin for you ..." "Give him some as well!" "I can't." "He has a bullet into the lung." "Morphin'll kill him" "4 dead. 3 at Roudier's and one ..." "Surrender !" "Or you'll die !" "I surrender !" "Now, we retreat !" "Koot, Koot !" "I'll go with the HQ group and Roudier's with the wounded men to hill 924" "Bullshit !" "Along the river !" "You stay here with your group. 15 minutes." "Do you have a watch ?" "15 minutes and then you retreat drawing the viets with you." "Then try to get to hill 924." "We'll wait for you until midnight" "If there is trouble, i don't know ..." "Go directly to Tao-Tsay, ok ?" "It's impossible with the wounded!" "They have to stay here!" "Sir, if we carry Roudier, we're dead !" "I'll take Roudier and the others !" "Fucking bullshit !" "If these 2 guys are not in hospital in 48hrs, they're dead !" "And us too !" "There is a vietminh division around us and you want to carry wounded men !" "And the fridge,as well?" "In 44, in Russia ..." "Theyve set up mortars ..." "We leave these guys here and we go !" "We take the wounded!" "Koot stays here." "That's all !" "Ok ..." "I want to stay with Koot" "Ok" "Stand up, stand up !" "Put Ti at the head of the column !" "Go, go !" "Watch out for the wounded men !" "Koot, destroy these rifles !" "All right ?" "I want to speak to Ti !" "Ti, go to the end of the column" " How far to Koot's position ?" " 500 meters, maybe" " No more ?" "And you Ti ?" " No more ..." "Listen, they are far away!" "Listen !" "Koot and his guys are all dead !" "Nonsense !" "There must be another solution" " They not using mortars any more" " You're right !" "Either the viets are after Koot, or they are just after us" "Perrin, check your watch." "We move in 1 minute." "Lieutenant !" "Planes !" "The B26 !" "A civil plane ..." "Maybe with pernod to drink ..." "Cool iced pernod ..." "I'd like a pernod too ..." "Well ..." "Let's go ..." "Get up !" "Ti, stay at the end of the column !" "Everybody under cover !" "Quick, quick !" "It'd be a pity to be discovered !" "You !" "Come here !" "Go to the edge of the forest, when the rest of the group arrive, you tell them to climb to the left" " Yes sir" " You understand ?" " Yes sir !" " Repeat what I said !" "When comrades here, I say :" "straight on, bad, left, good" "Good !" "On the left, remember ..." "We have to sit him up." "If not, he can't breathe." "Give me the meds !" "You alright ?" "I'll give you some morphine" " Here it is !" " Thanks !" "Set up your radio and inform me when you get Tao-Tsay" "I can't." "I gave the radio to Tchan to carry Roudier and Tchan is not still here" "Ok." "Help me." "Here is the cognac !" "Hold his leg." "Steady!" "Willsdorf is good at surgery ..." "He knows everything, that's true." "He learned in Russia" "In Russia ?" "I have to clean all this stuff ..." "You hurt him !" "I know !" "Hold him still !" "May be some cognac for him ?" "I'm not sure ..." "Thanks, lieutenant !" "We can inject anywhere ..." "Hmm ..." "Good !" "A three star one !" "He's going to die ..." "They are always running after him ..." "So he was in the Russian Campaign ?" " In the Wermacht ?" " Huh ..." "I don't know" "During the war, he was German sergeant like Roudier ..." "Give me the morphine." "Willsdorf is not German, he's Alsatian." "Only 5 morphines left." "Alsatian, yes, but during the war, he was German" "All France was occupied !" "It wasn't the same thing." "He speaks German, in fact." " It's ok, Roudier ?" " Yes" " Oh yes, he spoke about Russia ..." " Huh ..." "A battle in Russia, a little Stalingrad ..." " Willsdorf can't escape" " Oh Perrin, and your radio ?" "Ok, ok ..." "I'll go ..." "Choose 3 men." "The less tired ..." "To make 4 stretchers with bamboo" "The others will walk" " Bloody British !" " What's wrong ?" "There is an interference from an English station, Singapore, maybe ..." "And what can we do ?" "Nothing except doing it again and again ..." "I said nobody ..." "Oh, it's you, Ti ..." "I think they are near us." "In that little clearing ..." "But with the echoe, impossible to be sure" " What's that ?" " THe men cutting bamboo" "Koot's guys !" "The first one is Willsdorf" "It's Kantum" " The last one ?" " No." "Him." "There are 6 of them" "But, he's insane, Willsdorf !" "Go on, Chan !" "Perrin, stop with the radio." "Ti, put the wounded men on the stretchers" "And the others ?" "Willsdorf ?" "We said we'd wait for them until midnight !" "The 4 stretchers, in line ..." "Go on !" "Roudier, you're mad !" "Stop this !" "Everybody in the water !" "Quick !" " Roudier, you mustn't !" " Just one mouthful" "Go go !" "Quick !" "Motherfuckers !" "Oh !" "His name was Ti-Peng ..." "Don't stay here." "And about the man who lost his carbine ..." "So, let's go !" "Do you have pills for colic ?" "Don't know Sir ..." "Don't know ?" "The colic, you know, the colic !" "Lieutenant, we have to be in Tao Tsay tonight, because Fa-Long ... 30 minutes rest ..." "Perrin, Perrin ... check your watch" "Ti, sentries out?" "Euh ..." "No ..." "You're not serious, Ti." "No thanks ..." "A little bit tainted, I think ..." "You can eat it." "Maybe tomorrow - hunting" ""France is our mother, She fed us"" ""with potatoes and rotten beans"" "Watch out, Sir !" "There is a leech on your neck !" "Don't touch !" "I'm going to burn its ass .." "It's a green one." "The worst kind." "I wonder what they eat when we are in camp." "Sir, want syringe, sir" "Tell the lieutenant, quick" "The lieutenant is coming with morphine don't worry : this evening we'll be in Tao-Tsay" "And tomorrow a plane will come for us." "We are lucky ..." "The others will stay on the track" "When the hospital bores us, we'll look for girls" "Do you remember ?" "Give him morphine !" "He's dying !" "It's useless" "I'll give him liquid camphor" "A smoke, a smoke ..." "Missed !" "Me know his wife." "Me tell her him dead" "Dig a grave along the track" "Was he your friend ?" "He was scared." "Me too." "I'm going to die" "I'm thirsty" "Fa-Long was a good soldier." "We'll never forget him." "That's all." "We leave in 5 minutes." "There is a village !" "Stretchers on the floor !" "We stay here Ti." "Inform the chief of the village" "What are you saying ?" "The viets came here once ?" "Leave with elephants quick." "Leave quick !" "What are you mumbling ?" "Tell me if the viets came here once ?" "Yes Sir, yes" "And they are going to come back ?" "Yes." "They ask chief of village : "French where ?" "Don't know"" "Leave quick, sir !" "Where is the chief of the village ?" "Here !" "Him very scared viets come back" "ask him if Tao-Tsay still resists" "Don't know." "Leave quick with elephants." "Leave quick !" "Stay here, not good !" "When viets come back, kill everybody !" "All wounded men on elephants." "Now leave quick !" "Ok" "Thursday May 6th 5 PM" "Any viets ?" "No, sir, viets never come here !" "This girl speaks french !" "She speaks french !" "Good morning, sir" " She's the village chief's daughter" " Good morning" "Ti, to the elephants." "We stay in the village." "Perrin, the map and the compass !" "Always these bloody British !" "Bring me Ti !" "Oh Sir :" "Always the British." "I can't contact Tao-Tsay" "Is this the Village chief's house?" "I don't know." "It's the girl's house." "The so-called daughter ..." "Do you have ... huh ..." "Colic ?" "The rice was tainted ..." "Sir ..." "Sir ..." "Sir ..." "Leave now !" "Elephants eat well." "Good !" "Ti, we stay here for the night." "Men are too tired and Roudier ..." "Check if there are sentries in the jungle" "Ok sir ..." "Perrin, try to contact Kra-Tsie." "Tao-Tsay may have surrendered" "I hope not." "I'm trying to reach them with morse" "Put him here ..." "Him very ill" "Yes, but we have no more morphine ..." "Him very ill." "Same thing with japanese." "Sir, him smoke and better after" "Opium ?" "You're crazy !" "Opium, good." "Japanese smoke and better after." "Do you want to smoke ?" "I'm fed up with pain ..." "Did you get Kra-Tsie ?" "No, but it's time for the news on Radio-France Asia" "Violent engagements near Dien Bien Phu where  paratroops resist in spite of heavy losses" "In North Cambodia, the Vietminh offensive grows and attacks our troops who retreat" "The camp at Tao Tsay still resists" "Some engagements in the Mekong delta near Kra-Tsie" "The Vietminh delegation arrived this morning in Geneva" "Paris :" "France celebrates the tenth anniversary of the german capitulation" "The President of the Republic will go to the Arc of Triumph" "Roger Banister is the new fastest man to run the mile" "She's good for a blowjob, isn't she ?" "Sir, give me some tea ..." "You mustn't drink, Roudier ..." "Just to moisten the mouth ..." "What the fuck ?" "I'm going to die ..." "We can't always win ..." "If I'd known it was so painful" "I'd never have drunk the river water" "In Marseille, when I came on the boat ..." "There was a lot of cops because of the riots" "In Marseille ..." "And also in Saigon ..." "I often thought about that ..." "And now it's time" "I'll never know." "I just want to sleep a bit." "Friday May 7th 6 PM" "Roudier is dead" "Sir, Roudier is dead" "Right!" "Everybody up !" "Perrin, Ti, everybody up !" "Sir, civilians, elephants, gone." "All gone !" "And the sentries ?" "Sentries ?" "Don't know !" "Don't know, don't know ?" "He was sleeping !" "Him says not sleeping. 2 comrades go with civilians" "What's this mess !" "It's incredible !" "Ok." "BAR teams : go to each entance of the village." "Ti, get the wounded men ready to go." "Roudier died last night" "Perrin, take 2 men - dig a grave" "The man who lose his weapon in the river ..." "He takes one of the abandoned rifles and all the ammo." "He destroys the other rifle" "Get up !" "Get up !" "Dear sir : we scared." "Vietminh everywhere, not good." "Like with japanese, we go mountain, we hide" "I'm very sorry Signature :" "Li-Ten-Su" "If you need rice, you take" "Assholes !" "Willsdorf !" " Glad to see you" " Me too" " Sir, the watch" " No, keep it" " Any problems ?" " It was tough" "Two viet companies stuck to us." "Some casulaties." "At 11 PM, we escaped." "Koot sent 2 guys hill 924" "You didn't wait ?" "Great idea !" "The viets were there." "One of the guys was killed" "Yesterday, in a village, people told us you came here." "So, we followed you." "Shit !" "There are no civilians here ?" "Yes, they ran out with our elephants" "Not a good new ..." "Roudier is dead." "We bury him then we go." " Hey Willsdorf !" "Fine ?" " Fine ..." "Good ..." "Another wounded man ..." "Sir, He can't walk ..." "Sir, It's a miracle you're here." "Tao-Tsay maybe doesn't hold out any more" " No, on the radio, they said ..." " You contacted them ?" "Tao-Tsay ?" "No." "But the news on Radio-France Asia ..." "Listen :" "Nay-Mi is dying." "Soy is dying, too." "You're the boss. but I'd give them up without hesitation" " You're right ... but ..." " You want to carry them !" "I'm a pro at war." "Plus two tours of Indochina ..." "Ok ... before this evening we'll be naked ..." "Get up !" "Koot : in the lead !" "Ti, stay with me !" "Perrin, you deaf ?" " But .." "I am ... for Roudier ..." " Give up !" "Shit !" "Don't be upset : viets would dig him up to know who he was" "Go, now ..." "You're right." "You're always right." "Thanks Willsdorf ..." "Ti, help me !" "When viets will touch him, it will blow them out !" "Willsdorf, what do you think about Roudier ?" "He was not much of a talker." "A good guy." "Why ?" "I'm here for 18 days." "I thought i knew him, but ..." "I was surprised." "He was very brave ..." "You're a weird guy, Willsdorf." "I saw you in the clearing" "You got the BAR, but you'd give up Roudier" "Why do you think i got the BAR ?" "To preserve it from the viets ?" "I did'nt care !" "A BAR with a good team is good stuff." "What was the value of Roudier ?" "The speed of a snail." "And he died nevertheless" "Keep the distance !" "What a pretty valley !" "In 2-3 weeks, all the trees will be red" "The Cambodians'll celebrate the red, they'll drink and dance with girls" "Sir : when you make war, you must be sure of one thing :" "the target must justify the casualties." "If not, you can't win." "Keep the fucking distance !" "Sir, sir !" "A village - no civilians." "I sent a man to explore." " Viets ?" " Meos ..." "Let's go !" "Not good !" "Civilians all gone everywhere !" "Shut up Koot !" "Civilians scared !" "What's this mess ?" "Drop that !" "Don't worry !" "Koot told them they can take what they want" "So, you're ok with this looting?" "I'm going to explain : the civilians thought we were viets   So they gone." "They'll imagine the viets'll have done the looting ..." "You're very smart Willsdorf, very smart ..." "But we'll take nothing !" "Ok, ok ..." "Koot, stop what you're doing !" "I'm going to tell you a funny story" "In 1946, during my first tour in Indochina ..." "Look, sir !" "What is it ?" "St Estephe 1950 ..." " Where do you find it ?" " There !" "We can't drink this wine and oblige this guy to drop its pan ..." "It's quite disgusting ..." "But it's better than a kick in the ass ..." "So, in 1946, the company was in the Mekong delta ..." "The captain - killed in 1949 - decided to organize a big raid in the jungle" "He had a wooden leg." "In the pubs, he always stuck forks in it." "With the pants, it was so funny ..." "Well, well, well :" "let's go !" "5 meters between each man!" "Thanks !" "In the villages, all civilians used to welcome us with little flags" "When we turned up at the first village, nobody." "Same as here." "The captain said : an empty village was a rebel one and had to be burned" "Finally, a rebel village !" "We burned it." "Immediatly the civilians came back howling." "They were waiting for us at the other side of the village !" "They even had their little flags !" "Willsdorf, that's a cruel story !" "Yes ..." " A viet camp ..." " There were many !" " When did they leave ?" " Not long ago" " What do you think about it, Willsdorf ?" " Koot is right" "Have a cigarette ?" "Chan took mine" "Thanks !" "Sir, me scared !" "Don't want to be at the head !" "Fucking coward !" "Koot, come with me at the head !" "What's this mess ?" "You're scared about the viet camp ?" "Give me your submachine gun and ammo !" "I don't like to be half-naked" "I imagine a viet who says to his buddy :" "look, I'm going to shoot this guy." "This one ?" "No, the naked one !" "Silly, isn't it ?" "We have to cross here." "Maybe with the 2 bars to cover us." " Ok." "Do you think ..." " I don't know." "I'm worried !" "There are marks in the mud, over there." "When we're on the other side, send 4 or 5 guys ..." "Keep the distance !" "Keep the fucking distance !" "Hold your fire !" "Hold your fire !" "Hold your fire !" " Ti, take the BAR !" "Stay here !" " Yes Sir !" "Let's go !" "Take cover !" "Han, give me the BAR !" "I know where they are !" "They're about 10." "With only 4 or 5 rifles." "2 viets killed." "With your gunfight, they're scared, now ..." "Sir, sir, civilians very scared !" "What are they saying, those civilians ?" "Over there, there is the Vietminh captain." "Fights around Tao-Tsay." "So, Tao Tsay still holds out ..." "Anything wrong ?" "Tell Ti to come here with the rest of the group !" "Hooo ..." "My belly is so painfull !" "Some tropical disease..." "Opium is a good medicine." " What do they say ?" " Not much" "They were conscripted to carry rice for the viets" "Viets told them Dien-Bien-Phu has surrended." "Tao-Tsay too." "But they heard some shots during the night" "Don't drink like that !" "Tao-Tsay, is it still far ?" "2 hours on the track." "But we can't use it." "Excuse me ..." "Ti, follow them !" "Hold your fire !" "Hold your fire !" "You twat!" "And your radio, idiot ?" "Oooh shit !" "I wanted to take a piss ..." "I took it, and ..." "It's nothing." "But you really are an asshole !" "Now, go !" "Tao-Tsay !" "I was quite sure ..." "Shit !" "No more cigarettes !" "You surprised me" "I didn't think we could reach Tao-Tsay" "Shit !" "I've got smoke in my eye !" "I knew it." "I always knew it." "Tao-Tsay has fallen." "We continue towards Kra-Tsie." "We made half of the trip." "It'll be easier, now ..." "The dakota of Royal Air Cambodia." "Perrin, the radio, the radio !" "Yes sir." "I'm going to try to contact them on 5400 KC ..." "I don't care how ..." "The pilot is Delpierre." "A civilian." "He dropped the mail at Liong-Ba" " Perrin ?" " 2 minutes." "Chan, Go on !" "What is his flight code ?" "Dakota, Lima Bravo speaking ..." "Answer, Dakota !" "Answer !" "Lima Bravo." "Dakota speaking ..." "Lima Bravo." "Dakota speaking ..." "Plug me." "Dakota, Willsdorf speaking." "Delpierre, do you hear me ?" "Willsdorf ?" "You're alive ?" "Everybody thought you're dead !" "Great !" "Ask him for a drop!" "Drop us ammo, food and meds !" "Over !" "Ok, Lima Bravo." "Tell me where and when." "ASAP !" "I don't know where." "Yes :" "where we hunted tiger last year." "Yes I remember" "Perfect !" "Tomorrow, around 5 PM." "I'll drop what you want" "Ok !" "Go to Pelgrin's and drink an iced cognac !" "The tiger ?" "French soldiers of Lima Bravo !" "Surrender !" "This is the Army of the People of Viet Nam Stop the war now!" "Fucking viets !" "This is very bad news 599 01:08:32,470 -- 01:08:35,687 Nobody on the crest !" "Clean the weapons !" "Koot, check the ammo !" "Ti, look after the sick guys !" "This is Radio-France Asia :" "Here is the news" "After a 57 days battle, Dien-Bien-Phu has surrendered" "Pilots of the supply planes say there was no firing after 6 PM." "They saw long columns of men, probably French prisonners" "At this time, all over Indochina, Vietminh divisions are heading south" "Tomorrow, in Geneva, the conference about Indochina begins" "So, they've won ..." "Well ..." "It's a long way to our lines" "I don't think we can reach Kra-Tsie" "So, I think ..." "Willsdorf, a cigarette please ..." "So ..." "Tomorrow, we'll attack the viets in the village" "The village where they stock the rice ..." "You'd better smoke with a water-pipe, like me ..." "It's a little bit harsh to start with, but it's cool" "And about the attack ?" "You're the boss." "I hear you." "Tomorrow, we'll attack the village !" "Don't be upset." "I have a deal ..." "Fucking mosquitoes !" "You're right." "It's impossible to reach Kra-Tsie." "We can only escape towards north-east" "We can join the Meo villages." "They are organised for the guerilla warfare." "That was our goal with Koot until we arrived at the village with the elephants" "That's the tiger means : telling Delpierre we go north-east" "What's the deal with this tiger ?" "Last year, Koot killed a tiger with his submachine gun" "We gave the skin to Delpierre, who sent it to his wife" "Because of the holes, she can't make a coat with this skin," "So, she made a bikini ..." "Can you believe it ?" "A bikini !" "Something for the colic ..." "Drink it." "Be careful : it's hot." "It's good for you." "The Meo guerillas." "Good idea." "But we can attack the village before." "Our guys are exhausted !" "Exhausted ..." "Exhausted ..." "Sure, we're are running like rabbits ..." "Exhausted ..." "My foot !" "Cowards in fact !" "Listen, tomorrow, we'll leave the wounded men and we'll attack the village !" "The charge of the light brigade !" "And we'll be naked at the end ..." "What do you think, Koot ?" "Better run north-east !" "I'd go with you, Sir !" "Shut up !" "If we're lucky, 10 of our guy will be dead." "So what ?" "Do you want some of this disgusting tea ?" "Willsdorf ..." "The attack ..." "It'll be so cool ..." "Then we'll go hunting bikinis ..." "Woooh ..." "The weather is quite cool ..." "You look like a guy I met." "He was injured." "The arm, like Perrin." "But, he was like you ..." "It was in Berlin." "In May 1945." "He also wanted to be an hero ..." "But I ran." "He said : we'll be hung." "All of us !" "Viva la morte !" "He said." "And he laughed ..." "When I escaped, the viets .." "No, the Russians - they used cannon to kill them" "If we survive, we'll go to this pub in Kra-Tsie ..." "What's its name ?" "Ah, yes ..." "The Bungalo, AKA Pelgrin's" "Yes, that's it." "Pelgrin's ..." "A big big party at Pelgrin's !" "We'll smoke big cigars ..." "Willsdorf ..." "What ?" "Do you think they will conquer Hanoi now ?" "If they want ..." "There's nothing between Dien-Bien-Phu and Hanoi" " And all Indochina ?" " I don't think so" "How do you cope with loosing wars ?" "But you know that." "You were in the Wermacht ..." " By conviction ?" " I was conscripted !" "Alsace was a German territory, annexed !" "Ok, I was in the German army ..." "It was a piece of shit ..." "And fuck !" "Smolensk, Voronej, Kursk, Kharkov ... fucking awful!" "Saturday May 8th 09h15 AM" "We go, now ?" "The charge of the light brigade." "There are 8 viets." "But some may be hidden." "What is this guy doing ?" "Talking about their victory ?" "I think he's a political officer" " OK ..." "Listen ..." " No." "You listen .." "Look at the last house, over there." "The peasant told me it's the rice store." "I'll go there and block the main exit." "You watch this house." "The 2nd sentry may be hanging around the house." "When I'm in position.. crack !" "I believe you want to hunt tiger right now !" "Perrin !" "Give me that." "I was a good sniper at Coet ..." "Go !" "The sentry, the sentry !" "Take it and stay here !" "Follow me !" "Watch out for the civilians !" "Watch out the viets !" "Ti, bring me everybody here !" "Koot, go and burn the rice store !" "Stop that !" "Stop it now !" "Looting is strictly forbidden !" "Ok ?" "The party is over !" "3 men with Koot !" "You others destroy those rifles." "This woman is dying." "I told them to give her opium." "I took a bit for you." "Sir, he was trying to escape." "Me kill him ?" "No, he'll carry the wounded." "Victory ..." "How many viets dead ?" "9 here." "With the 2 sentries." "And I don't know how many in the house 3." "So, 12. 3 are missing." "No, 2 with the prisoner ..." "Sir, house burned !" "Run out now !" "But what was this guy doing ?" "I know, sir !" "He say :" "Cambodian, yellow." "Not good with French white men." "Good with yellow Vietminhs" "He say :" "French ran out at Dien-Bien-Phu" "He say : white run out." "Yellow stay." "That's all" "So, translate what I'm going to say to these laughing boys" "Blood is red." "And red will stay here." "Always !" "Dig graves !" "In the village !" "Nice show !" "But a little bit simple, the egg trick, no ?" "Don't believe it !" "In 1946, the rebels didn't dare shoot the white "gods"." "Because they thought the bullets would come back to them." "You know, in Cambodia ..." "Perrin !" "Come here !" "Look at these ..." "All the way from London" " British cigarettes ..." "So ..." "In Cambodia, they like fairy tales signs of fate..." "Symbols ..." "They are poets ..." "You are a poet, too." "A tragic one ..." "Koot, let's go !" "Oh, Chang, shut up and go on !" "Alpha Kilo, Alpha Kilo Lima Bravo, Lima Bravo calling ..." "Eh !" "Look at this guy staring me !" "Do you want my photo?" "Smoke !" "Good cigar !" "I've got him, sir !" "Lima Bravo i'm just over Tao-Tsay." "Over." "Fly on 350 ..." "Tell him, Perrin !" "Lima Bravo, I don't understand." "Repeat !" "Go on Chang !" "Faster !" "Quiet !" "There he is!" "Alpha Kilo, I see you." "Turn right !" "120° right !" "We are behind you, now !" "You are too far." "Turn back !" "Lima Bravo, I see your marker." "I'm going to drop !" "What is he doing ?" "Contact him !" "He's mistaken !" "Alpha Kilo, we are behind you." "BEHIND you !" "Alpha Kilo, you're insane !" "You are dropping among the viets !" "We are behind you, behind you !" "He's turning." "He understood." "We are now on your left !" "Keep turning left !" "OK." "Just straight on !" "Lima Bravo." "Very bad reception." "We'll make only one more drop." "Ok, and thank you !" "Alpha Kilo, you're going to see us on your left" "Lima Bravo." "I see your marker at 11 h." "Roger !" "Alpha Kilo." "In 5 seconds. 4 .. 3 .." "2 ... 1 .." "Go !" "Great job !" "See you later !" "Lima Bravo : good luck, guys !" "Stay calm !" "5 men per parachute !" "Koot destroy the marker!" "It's too visible a target !" "The marker!" "The marker!" " Koot, what a mess !" " Pernod all broken !" "The guys in columns !" "Here!" " Sir ..." "You, first ..." " Oh ..." "It's the Ritz !" "Koot, 2 packs of ammo per man ..." "Look after your radio instead of playing the clown !" "Sir, sir !" "Sorry, I dropped the meds among the viets." "There are many in the valley." "Delpierre." "A chicken ?" "Stop it !" "Now !" "The viets are on the other side !" "STOP IT !" "Where's this chicken come from?" "Oh yes ..." "It's you, Ksun." "It's obvious ..." "Take in village. him happy to sleep here !" "The lieutenant said : don't take chickens ... take it before lieutenant say !" "Get out !" "Ti, 2 more ammo packs for him !" "Monday May 10th 1500 hrs" "Let's go, Koot ..." "Koot !" "Go, go !" "His temperature is so fucking hot !" "You're in pain?" "It's disgusting !" "What do you mean ?" "Disgusting ..." "Yes, it's war ..." "They are good for war, these assholes !" "Great soldiers !" "Do you think you can stay stuck on me ?" "They are going to come and see their job" "Go, Willsdorf ..." "Go ..." "We'll go in the jungle. and find bamboo to make a stretcher." "Go ..." "I don't care now ..." "I'm so tired ..." "Give me a cigarette and go ..." "Sir, sir !" "Let.s go !" "I'm coming !" "Goodbye, sir !" "Go ..." "You too ..." "Come on, Ti !" "Willsdorf ..." "Willsdorf ... tonight ... the animals ..." "I'm scared ... the animals ..." "Let's go !" "Monday May 10th 1954." "It's 1530 hrs" "The 317th platoon is no more" "On December the 7th 1960 Willsdorf will be shot and killed" "In the Djebel Amour in Algeria" "Translation : jcv_vidal - 10/2006 Re-written by M Feilden, March 2016"