改編自《白鯨記》美國文豪梅爾維爾1979年發表的短篇小說《水手比利巴德》，卻將故事背景轉換至法國駐東非殖民地的鐵血營隊，透過軍事訓練中教條、榮譽、絕對服從等巨大陽性崇拜的刻劃，以及被禁錮的性與慾望的細膩偷渡，魅惑而又諷刺地呈現女性眼中的男人世界法則。美國《村聲》雜誌譽為1999年最重要的電影作品。

This film focuses on ex-Foreign Legion officer, Galoup, as he recalls his once glorious life, leading troops in the Gulf of Djibouti. His existence there was happy, strict and regimented, but the arrival of a promising young recruit, Sentain, plants the seeds of jealousy in Galoup's mind.