The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1968)
The Story of a Three-Day Pass is based on a novel entitled La Permission in France. The black-and-white film was released on July 8, 1968, written and directed by the same author of the novel, Melvin Van Peebles. In 2020, the film was selected as one of the Cannes Classics sections at the Cannes Film Festival. [1] The Story of a Three-Day Pass is also winning an award as a Winner of Best Film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. [2]
Plot
Turner, a black American U.S. soldier, given a three-day pass as he stationed in France by his captain right after his promotion. As the captain thinks that Turner is a good Negro who is obidient, frightened, and cheerful. Clueless about what to do during his free days, Turner decided to go to a night club in Paris and meet a white France woman, Miriam who worked as a shop clerk. They enjoyed and had a great time together in the club, until at one point Miriam agrees to spend the weekend with Turner as he thinks that she is prostitute, while she is not. Their romance blossoms, meet again to visit the sea side on the next day, even Turner booked a hotel room at a Normandy beach hotel. However, their love story is not as lovely as what they feel to each other, they started struggling with racial misunderstanding and real prejudice. Until their interracial relationships reported to Turner's captain and resulting Turner restricted to barracks.
Controversy
Born as a black man makes the main actor even doubts or criticizes himself everytime he sees his reflection in the mirror and accuses him of being an Uncle Tom. [3]
In 1966, reality overtook the movie. France's president, Charles de Gaulle, ordered all Foreign solier out of France. In 1968, by the time the movie came out, there were no bases for Americans there. [4]
References
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_a_Three-Day_Pass
- ↑ https://www.kanopy.com/product/story-three-day-pass
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_a_Three-Day_Pass
- ↑ https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/what-to-stream-the-story-of-a-three-day-pass-a-precursor-to-spike-lees-da-5-bloods