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L'Attentat
1972 Thriller
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Credits
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Director: Yves Boisset
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Script: Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina, Jorge Semprún
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Photo: Ricardo Aronovich
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Music: Ennio Morricone
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Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant (François
Darien),
Michel Piccoli (Colonel Kassar),
Jean Seberg (Edith Lemoine),
Gian Maria Volontè (Sadiel),
Michel Bouquet (Me Lempereur),
Bruno Cremer (Me Bourdier),
Daniel Ivernel (Antoine Aconetti),
Philippe Noiret (Pierre Garcin),
François Périer (Rouannat),
Roy Scheider (Michael Howard),
Jacques François,
Jean Bouise,
Denis Manuel (Azam),
Marc Mazza,
Jacques Richard,
Karin Schubert (Sabine)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 120 min
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Aka: Plot; The Assassination; The French Conspiracy
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Summary
Sadiel, a prominent rebel leader in a North African state, takes refuge in Switzerland
in the aftermath of a coup d’état. Aware of the threat still posed
by Sadiel, the ruthless Colonel Kassar contacts the French security services and tries
to enlist their help in capturing the political activist. A police informer, Darien,
is coerced into luring Sadiel to Paris, ostensibly to make a television programme about
the Third World. Once in Paris, Sadiel is captured and delivered to his political
opponents. Disgusted by the way he has been manipulated into betraying a friend,
Darien tries to turn the tables. He doesn’t quite realise what he's up against…
Review
This polished political thriller earned critical acclaim for director Yves Boisset and
stands as one of his best films, in spite of its complex plot and ambiguous political
context. The scenario was based closely on the infamous Ben Barka affair, in which
the Moroccan leader was “disappeared” in mysterious circumstances in Paris
in 1965. Strong performances from Jean-Louis Trintignant, Michel Piccoli and Gian
Maria Volonté, plus a well-honed script, make this a fine example of its genre,
easily matching the standard of Costa-Gavras’ political thrillers from the same
decade.
© James Travers 2004
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