BFI
Le Samouraï
RFS’s World Cinema Classic for Season 61 is Le Samouraï. Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, this 1967 neo-noir thriller follows Jef Costello (Alain Delon), a meticulous and solitary hitman who lives by a strict code of honour, akin to that of a samurai. After executing a nightclub owner, Jef carefully crafts his alibi, but a series of witnesses, including the club’s pianist, complicates his escape. Despite his best efforts, the police, led by a determined commissioner, grow suspicious of him, tightening the noose around his carefully controlled life.
As Jef navigates through a web of lies and deceit, both the law and his employers - who now view him as a liability - close in. He must somehow outsmart both forces whilst sticking to his rigid personal code. The film’s spare dialogue and moody, atmospheric style emphasise Jef’s isolation, giving the audience a sense of his inner turmoil despite his outward calm.
Thematically, the film explores existential loneliness, honour, and the inevitability of fate. In a world where where loyalty is fleeting and death is ever-present, the film’s minimalist aesthetic and use of silence amplify the tension and underscore the themes of isolation and inevitability.
Whilst not widely decorated upon its release, the film has since been recognised as a classic of the genre, inspiring numerous directors and films in the crime and thriller genres. Recently departed, Alain Delon’s iconic performance cemented his place as a defining figure in French cinema.
The film will be introduced by Jon Davies, a tutor in French Cinema and an Associate of the British Film Institute. Jon hosted the popular monthly 'French Impressions’ screenings locally at Watermans for over twenty years and, following the closure of the centre, he will be resuming the monthly Saturday afternoon screenings at The Chiswick Cinema from 11 January 2025. See https://www.frenchcinema.info/courses for details.
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