More on Le Trou

Here's an interesting tidbit taken from an essay by Chris Fujiwara posted on the Criterion Collection page:

The novel on which Le Trou is based recounts the true story of a prison escape plan in which the author, José Giovanni, took part. Becker wrote the script with Giovanni and cast the film with nonprofessionals, one of whom, Jean Keraudy (Roland), played the same role in real life that he plays in the film. The use of nonprofessionals (and, interestingly, Becker made professionals out of them—Philippe Leroy [Manu] and Michel Constantin [Géo] went on to particularly successful acting careers) is only one of the elements that heighten our sense that, as we watch Le Trou, we are immersed in a world that has been seen and experienced.