La Nuit de Saint-Germain-des-Prés (1977)
Directed by Bob Swaim

Film Review

The first film by the American director Bob Swaim is a heady cocktail of film noir, French existentialist philosophy and Left Bank jazz culture. La Nuit de Saint-Germain-des-Prés tries to be a more sophisticated brand of thriller than your average French policier but, hampered by a mediocre script, it struggles to make any impression. Despite a commendable performance from Michel Galabru - a surprising choice for the part of Léo Malet's famous fictional detective Nestor Burma - this plodding detective thriller barely fills its ninety minute runtime and it seems to drift aimlessly, more concerned with imbibing the atmosphere of Left Bank Paris than telling a coherent story.

As in his next film, the critically acclaimed La Balance (1982), Swaim is most successful in creating a distinctive seedy ambiance that is strongly evocative of life in the criminal margins of society. An aura of menace and corruption pervades the film but there is also a subtle tenebrous poetry, conveyed by the atmospheric cinematography and score. Swaim's visual flair is readily apparent, and it is a shame that his efforts are undermined by a narrative that is so lacking in substance and so unevenly paced.

One thing to watch out for is a fresh-faced Daniel Auteuil in one of his early film appearances - it is a pity that he isn't given a greater role in the proceedings. Auteuil's chilling soliloquy at the end is the one part of the film to have a visceral impact, and immediately you sense that this is an actor with an immense future ahead of him.

Film Synopsis

A private detective Nestor Burma has a rendez-vous with a jazz trumpet player in a cheap hotel, to recover some stolen jewellery.  When Burma arrives, the musician is dead, stabbed to death. At the instruction of his paymaster, Burma continues his investigation, in and around Saint Germain, the cultural hub of Paris...