The classical problem of foam film rupture dynamics has been investigated when the film interfaces exhibit very high rigidity due to the presence of specific surfactants. Two new features are reported. First, a strong deviation from the well-known Taylor-Culick law is observed. Second, crack-like patterns can be visualized in the film; these patterns are shown to appear at a well-defined film shrinkage. The key role of surface-active material on these features is quantitatively investigated, pointing to the importance of surface elasticity to describe these fast dynamical processes and thus providing an alternative tool to characterize surface elasticity in conditions extremely far from equilibrium. The origin of the cracks and their consequences on film rupturing dynamics are also discussed.

(Received ?; revised ?; accepted ?. -To be entered by editorial office) T1 topological rearrangement, i.e. switching of neighboring bubbles in a liquid foam, is the elementary process of foam dynamics, and it involves film disappearance and generation. It has been extensively studied as it is crucial in foam rheology or foam collapse. T1 dynamics depends mainly on the surfactants used to generate the foam, and several models taking into account surface viscosity and/or elasticity have been proposed. By performing experiments in a cubic assembly of films, we go a step forward in this global analysis and investigate experimentally the mechanism of formation of the new film. In particular, the flow velocity field is probed by particle tracking and the film thickness is measured by light absorption and interferometric measurements. Two limit behaviors for the film are reported: it may 1) undergo an homogeneous extension, or 2) resist elongation and remain at rest, new film being created from liquid exchange with connecting meniscus. Both T1 dynamics and film thickness are shown to depend on the competition between these two behaviors. Interestingly, their balance is set by the surfactant solution used, but it is also shown to vary during a single T1 relaxation process.