Four prison inmates have been hatching a plan to literally dig out of jail when another prisoner, Claude Gaspard, is moved into their cell. They take a risk and share their plan with the newcomer. Over three days, the five men start making their way out – yet their escape is anything but assured.

Le trou is the final film by French auteur Jacques Becker—dying after its completion at the age of 53—but also his best known and greatest. A singular prison escape film—based on a true story and made in collaboration with a participant—five inmates must stick together in order to break out.