Film Review
Claude Pinoteau directs this well-paced psychological thriller which features an excellent
cast headed by the irreplaceable Lino Ventura. The plot is more complex than usual
but the film's familiar neo-noir style and mounting suspense hold the spectator's
attention right up until the closing credits. An impressive solid performance from
Ventura (in one of his last film roles) sustains the film's relentlessly oppressive
mood, which is relieved only by a few brief moments of humour. Pinoteau's
use of music to create atmosphere is carried to an operatic scale here, with the help
of a hugely evocative score from composer Vladimir Cosma.
© James Travers 2004
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Claude Pinoteau film:
L'Étudiante (1988)
Film Synopsis
Bastien Grimaldi, a former journalist now in his fifties, leads a tranquil
existence until one night he becomes the victim of three unknown assailants.
After this attack, he begins receiving threatening telephone calls but has
no idea who his aggressors are. Surely no one in his immediate entourage
has a grudge against him? There is Nelly, a very desirable woman whom
Bastien once had an affair with - she is now married to Jean, a mild-mannered
ventriloquist who couldn't hurt a fly. Then there is Laura, the daughter
of a friend of his who was killed in Cambodia - now a professional violinist,
she has come to regard him as an adopted father. And of course Bastien
shouldn't forget his partner Catherine and his authoritarian mother.
Could one of these be behind the attack?
Bastien is at a complete loss to explain why he should suddenly become the
target of someone's obvious hatred for him. After being pursued down
a stretch of motorway by someone who obviously means him harm, the ex-reporter
has good reason to think his life is in danger. Unfortunately, the police
are just as mystified as he is by these inexplicable - and so far pretty
harmless - attempts to unnerve him. As he pursues his own line of enquiry,
Bastien discovers that Laura is mixed up with a German named Hagner who belongs
to a dangerous political group. It seems that Bastien is intended to
play a crucial part in a carefully orchestrated assassination in Berlin, where
Laura is to perform at a concert...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
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Film Credits
- Director: Claude Pinoteau
- Script: Jean-Loup Dabadie, Claude Pinoteau
- Cinematographer: Edmond Séchan
- Music: Vladimir Cosma
- Cast: Lino Ventura (Bastien Grimaldi),
Lea Massari (Nelly),
Jean Poiret (Jean Michelis),
Roger Planchon (Le commissaire Paillard),
Élisabeth Bourgine (Laura),
Béatrice Agenin (Catherine),
Jean-Pierre Bacri (L'inspecteur Daniel Esperanza),
Robert Hoffmann (Hagner),
Michael Morris (Clairbone),
Erick Desmarestz (L'inspecteur Buvard),
Karol Zuber (Le petit Pierre),
Lina Volonghi (La mamma),
Annick Alane (Gabrielle),
Sylvie Orcier (Mme Bolek),
Francis Lemaire (Le conducteur de la R5),
Jean-Jacques Moreau (Bolek),
Nicolas Silberg (Le flic diapos),
Madeleine Barbulée (L'antiquaire aux puces),
Vania Vilers (Paul),
Janine Souchon (La marchande de chaussures)
- Country: France
- Language: French
- Support: Color
- Runtime: 108 min