Stars: Jean Bouise, Pierre Jolivet

Director: Luc Besson

Summary: After a major disaster, the world has been left desolate apart from a handful of people...

Director Luc Besson's (THE FIFTH ELEMENT, LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL) first feature tells the tale of a bleak post-nuclear war world where survival is a day-to-day struggle. One man (known only as The Man) struggles to build an airplane so that he can fly about in search of a mate. His goal is complicated by the fierce Brute (Jean Reno)-- but with help from a mad old scientist, The Man may eventually rise above his oppressive surroundings to find true love. Shot in black and white, with no dialogue to speak of, this unusual work won numerous French Film Awards.

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Le Dernier Combat(1983) finds Luc Besson setting out his directorial convictions in vividly direct terms. He honours the French New Wave through spartan, documentary-style presentation and--save for possibly the two most meaningful "Bonjours" in cinema history--the total absence of dialogue, appropriate for a film in which devastation has robbed survivors of the power of speech. The action centres on Pierre Jolivet, good-guy in a society where vigilantism and subjugation are the primary tools of survival. Gladiatorially clad Jean Reno makes a characteristic showing as his ruthless opponent, while Jean Bouise is the taciturn doctor who comes to Jolivet's aid.

Eric Serra offsets the chill austerity with a motley score of modernist clichés and easy listening soundbites. To be honest, there's little about this film that could be considered ground-breaking, but if a Mad Maxscenario filtered through European surrealist sensibilities appeals, then Le Dernier Combatwill make absorbing viewing.

On the DVDLe Dernier Combat's 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture has a suitably stark immediacy, enhanced by the surround sound option. There are no subtitles, hardly a stumbling block in this instance, and no special features apart from the chance to see trailers for two rather different Hollywood productions. There's no directorial commentary, which is a pity, as Besson's subsequent career has been an eventful one and it would have been good to hear him discuss it from the perspective of his first feature. --Richard Whitehouse

Aspect Ratio:	2.35 Wide Screen
Main Language:	French
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1983
Release Date:	March 31, 2003
Runtime:	89 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C D R 17422
Keywords:	Final, Last, Battle, General, Combat, Wide, Screen, Dernier, Le, Horror, Occult, Sci, Fi
Genre:	Horror/Occult