L'insoumis

The female lawyer on whose kidnapping this film is based successfully sued the producers, among whom was Alain Delon, for violation of privacy. As a result the Court ordered twenty-five minutes' worth of cuts which naturally made the film nonsensical. This was obviously a bitter blow for director Alain Cavalier whose decision to make a film at that time with a backdrop of the Algerian War took courage and for Delon who gives one of his finest performances. Happily those scenes have now been restored. Delon plays Thomas, an ex-Legionnaire who is paid by the OAS to guard two French citizens one of whom is a female lawyer. He helps them escape and is thereafter a hunted man. Matters become even more complicated when he and the lawyer begin an affair.........

Delon, perhaps drawing upon his experience as a soldier in Indochina, is sensational as Thomas and is perfectly complemented by the magnificent Italian actress Lea Massari as Dominique whose chemistry is palpable whilst Georges Geret is excellent as his former lieutenant who becomes his pursuer.

Cavalier has the services of the brilliant cinematographer Claude Renoir and there is a great but sparingly used score by Georges Delerue.

This compelling and haunting film has neither a wasted shot nor a false moment and I strongly urge you to see it.