La Bandera

A night-time Paris curfew drives Pierre Gilieth and his drunken girlfriend Jacqueline into a collision on the street. He leaves a streak of blood on Jacqueline's dress, which she immediately notices and gasps about. The small accident seeds suspicion and sets Gilieth on a dangerous, spiraling path.

The story cuts to Gilieth peering through Venetian blinds in Barcelona while a detective shadows him around town. In a bar, French accomplices steal his identifications and hand them to the detective. Gilieth reacts with mounting distrust, realizing his life is under scrutiny.

Facing the theft of his papers, Gilieth tries to confront the thieves but ultimately refuses to let the police investigate. His stubborn stance deepens the chill of distrust he already feels toward authority. The tension marks a turning point in his attempts to remain free.

Having exhausted other options, he signs up for the Spanish Foreign Legion. A recruitment placard places the action in a pre-war context, with references to the Spanish Republic and the Law of 17 July 1934. Newcomers arrive destitute, while Lucas is clearly flush with cigarettes and bar tabs.

Lucas is portrayed as someone who has money for cigarettes and bar hopping, prompting rumors about his true backing. Other recruits assume his mother supports him, while Gilieth grows wary as Lucas hides his identification card. The distrust between them simmers beneath the surface.

To dull memories of the Crime of Rue St-Vincent, Gilieth posts a clipping announcing a 50,000 Franc reward at the base pen. Lucas appears and invites him to drink, but the exchange quickly turns hostile in a bar confrontation. The encounter intensifies the growing tension between the two men.

Mulot brings Gilieth to a local establishment where he meets Aisha la Slaoui, a native woman with distinctive marks. He falls in love at first sight, and the two marry in a gypsy ceremony that features a blood ritual. The romance pulls him toward a life beyond the Legion’s borders.

Gilieth dreams of escaping with Aisha to Rabat to start anew, but he knows Lucas remains a threat. He manipulates Aisha to lie about her love and to entertain Lucas to keep his plan safe for the moment. The plan underscores the clash between desire and duty.

Gilieth and Lucas confront each other outside to settle matters 'like men'. Aisha hands Lucas a coin as a memory token, and Gilieth admits he has killed a man, signaling a shift toward accepting a grim fate rather than escaping. He warns Lucas that continuing will bring dire consequences.

The bandera volunteers line up for a perilous mission, with the captain taking command to lead the assault. Lucas is exposed as a police spy, provoking anger from the captain who orders him away from the men. The revelation heightens the danger already surrounding the unit.

The outpost comes under heavy fire, with poisoned water and sniper fire creating chaos. A fighter plane appears, and several men are shot; Captain Weller dies of heat exhaustion while trying to sustain the assault. Gilieth and Lucas survive to carry the fight as the main force advances up the hill.

Gilieth is shot by a sniper, and the roll call records a grim fate for the others. Lucas is listed as present, while Gilieth is noted as 'Promoted on the battlefield to corporal and killed in action'. In the moment of death, he returns to Aisha, thinking of her as he passes away.