La bonne année

Lino Ventura shows here another of his talents, not necessarily the rough, tough virile man. He plays a gangster preparing a major jewellery store heist. A very brilliant and intelligent job. And besides this scheme, he falls in love with a woman who happens to work not far from his "target". Françoise Fabian is also at her best in this sensitive role; both her and Ventura are in a magic symphony, harmony, for the best pleasure of the audience. I have been surprised to get totally swallowed by this poignant crime flick. There was a remake in the eighties, with Peter Falk in Ventura's character, and directed by John Avildsen. Charles Gerard is also wonderful here, as Lino Ventura's sidekick.

Former boxer Lino Ventura stars in this popular crime piece. But Claude Lelouche, the director of the hugely internationally successful romance Un Homme et Une Femme ensured that this too is a story of a man and a woman in which both Ventura and Francoise Fabian play their parts to perfection. Vive la Difference is the subtext of this film, and one marvels at the raw chemistry generated by the two stars. Lelouche can't help having a dig at smug left-bank intellectuals, but who can blame him for that? Nothing in this film is predictable, right to the very end. Why it seems to be unavailable in video is a mystery to me! See it!

Claude Lelouch takes the ideas of present and past and turns them ingeniously on their heads. We see the history of the three main characters' involvement with each other in a humorous account involving the past and present. Some of this time-switching reminds me of the film to come, Tarrantino's Pulp Fiction, in its clever time-narrative.

The film works its way around crime, friendship and love in an artistic way, leaving you quite satisfied with the outcome.

Great character studies of the jewel thief who falls in love with an antique dealer while chasing a joint in the South of France. Brilliant dialogue, brilliant performances by FF and Lino Ventura. Good comic turn by LV's partner in crime too.

Simon, a jewel thief, is released from prison on New Year's Eve. As he returns to freedom, we see (through flashback) the eventful few weeks that led up to his arrest. An entertaining film, with interesting dialogue and brilliant direction throughout.

7/10.