Most films which have depicted 'French legion' have been American productions. They have been able to given an American perspective of French military scene. After 'Fort Saganne' (1984) directed by late Alain Corneau, 'Beau Travail' is the second French film made in recent times which talks about the French legion (La Légion Etrangère), a military service wing of the French Army which was established in 1831. French legion is considered absolutely unique as it was created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces. It continues to attract numerous soldiers who are willing to show their valor during critical missions. Although this film has a regular story as well as a conventional plot, it does not easily fit into the mold of regular French films as its narrative device is completely different from other films made in France. One would not find any chatty characters willing to set tongues wagging. Despite having directed a feature film director Claire Denis has been able to give a 'documentary' type feel to her film. It helps viewers to understand the world in which the protagonists live. A good selection of nice musical tracks is this film's principal strengths. It helps viewers to get closer to one of film's important characters. Lastly, 'Beau Travail' is a good example of a fairly ambitious film which has come as close as possible to a documentary film.

Never mind the pseudo-psycho plot that is really just undeveloped, the music that is mainly purloined or the character development that is really nil. The scenery and the physicality are worth it. Imagine a place whose most interesting geographical feature is an immense salt flat stretching to the jagged mountains on the horizon, and you'll get the idea. It's hard to believe the French Foreign Legion is this romantic, but the bodies are certainly worth the show.No one seems to have observed that "beau travail" can be play on words in French. It can mean "beautiful work" but it can also mean "empty" or "vain" work. Clever.

claire denis portrays the French Foreign Legion from a feminine viewpoint. the result is a beautiful, sensual, almost sexy movie, i especially liked the way the bodies of the men were depicted. it is absolutely necessary to watch this movie in the cinema, on the small screen it loses its most important factor, that is the visual aspect. the dancing is poetic, but not at all realistic. the degree of artistic abstraction concerning the army leads to some irritation for some people which have actually been to the army, because they know that it is far from reality. the problem altogether is that beau travail is probably not going to make a lasting impression on most people, because it plays with superficial emotions.

Dull, dull, dull.I will admit I decided to watch this film for the purported "eye candy". But I kept watching because I was promised an meaningful interpretation of "Billy Budd" in the Foreign Legion. (I had also watched Dietrich and Gary Cooper in "Morocco" earlier in the day and was intrigued by the idea of watching 2 films set in the French Foreign Legion in the same day.) The film pretty much fails on both counts. There are some interesting looking guys who are filmed at times in various states of dress looking hunky and hot in the Mediterranean sun -- but this is not a flesh feast or even a good old-fashioned war movie. You can do better in that regard with a documentary about the Navy Seals. As for the storyline - I think I understand what the director was going for --- a sort of stripped-down minimalist storytelling that echoes the minimalism of the North African landscape and architecture. But it really doesn't work. Instead, one just feels that nothing is really happening and that the few incidents we are shown seem unconnected and often pointless. (And, of course, maybe that is deliberate and meant to evoke the pointlessness of military existence, but, even if so, it's not very entertaining and it doesn't really teach us anything we don't already know.)