Un papillon sur l'épaule

The plot outline on the IMDB page is about a "young man" ,which does not exactly describes Lino Ventura who was nearing 60 when this movie was made.

This is minor quibble:"Un papillon sur l'épaule" is by far Deray's most ambitious work.A thoroughly abstract thriller,we never know what is all about.There's a search for a mysterious small suitcase ,and the hero seems to be caught in a cobweb,like a Kafka character.The enemy remains invisible ,the screenplay always refers to "they " "them" "the others" "these people".Who are they?Why are they killing? (there are many murders in this movie)What do they want?

Actually the subject had already been treated in the past,and with better results.Henri-Georges Clouzot pulled it off brilliantly with his most underrated oeuvre "les espions" (1957,"diabolique" follow-up),and of course,we will not forget Orson Welles' "the trial" (1963).As far directing is concerned,Deray is no match for these two giants.But his attempt is commendable and will reward you more than the Delon/Belmondo cop stories he too often filmed.