The Story of a Three-Day Pass

In Badass, Melvin Van Peebles laments how Hollywood's racist history prevents black stars from providing their own spin on familiar stories. Here, he shows what he means by updating the French New Wave to approach social drama. The picture surpasses Guess Who's Coming to Dinner & Get Out at showing the double consciousness a black hero must contend with. And it's ahead of its time with shots that Spike Lee would use, and sex jokes fit for a Netflix comedy special. Astounding & unjustly ignored.

Melvin Van Peebles #1

French New Wave with distinct American sensibilities. Van Peebles always had a knack for being direct.

A great little slice of film history! This is the film that caught the attention of Hollywood and brought van Peebles to the United States to direct. A nice little new wave film that explores the race issue from numerous perspectives.

There's a lot to like here - it's a sad and intimate story, but Van Peebles seems uncomfortable in the New Wave style.

Viewed January 21, 2022. Melvin van Peebles' debut feature about an American soldier on leave in France has an obvious New Wave influence—a more realistic aesthetic and a formal playfulness perfect for a story that shifts between carefree joy and stark anger.

This is a really neat film.