The true story of a French Resistance worker's escape form imprisonment by the Gestapo in the Montluc fortress at Lyon was the inspiration for A Man Escaped: "The story is true. I give it as it is, without embellishment," claimed Bresson. However, by pushing through the authentic details into a more transcendental realm, Bresson in fact subtly transforms the simple story into a metaphysical meditation. This he does by introducing an unseen, transcendental force which helps the young man in simple but crucial ways: "I would like to show this miracle: an invisible hand over the prison, directing what happens and causing such a thing to succeed for one and not another...the film is a mystery...The Spirit breathes where it will." The kind of film which inspires awe, even in an atheist.

Direction: Robert Bresson.

Screenplay: Robert Bresson, based on an article by André Devigny.

Photography: Léonce-Henry Burel.

Editing: Raymond Lamy.

Music: The "Kyrie" from Mozart's Mass in C Minor.

François Leterrier.......................................Lt. Fontaine

Charles Le Clainche.................................François Jost

Roland Monod...............................de Leiris, the Pastor

Maurice Beerblock.........................................Blanchet

Jack Ertaud.......................................................Orsini

Roger Tréherne....................................................Terry

Jean-Paul Delhumeau......................................Hébrard