Unable to break into a segregated Hollywood, Van Peebles decamped to France, taught himself the language, and wrote a number of books in French, one of which, La permission, would become his stylistically innovative feature debut.
Turner (Baird), an African American soldier stationed in France, is granted a promotion and a three-day leave by his casually racist commanding officer and heads to Paris and a whirlwind romance with a white woman (Berger) – but what happens to their love when his furlough is over?
Channelling the brash exuberance of the French New Wave, Van Peebles creates an exploration of the psychology of an interracial relationship as well as a commentary on France’s contradictory attitudes about race that is playful, sarcastic and insightful.
4K restoration.
Presented as part of Cinema Rediscovered on Tour, a Watershed project with support from BFI awarding funds from The National Lottery.
