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.
© James Travers 2001
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
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...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.