Le Samouraï

Title: Le Samouraï
Release Date: 1967
Director: Jean-Pierre Melville

Jean-Pierre Melville took what I absolutely love about music and transformed it into an astounding film, minimalistic and droning yet astonishingly exhilarating.  Le Samourai is the story of a criminal perfectionist, a humble loner hired by unknown mobsters to silence anyone who might be kicking up trouble.  He lives his life in solitude, avoiding relationships and social interaction like a disease, only speaking when necessary and appearing when vital.  Cloaked in a tan rain coat and mysterious top hat, he coordinates his murders with such precision and technicality it seems the plausibility of persecution or capture is null.  A very sleek, independent, intelligent hitman living his life in the shadow of obscurity.  This is exactly what I love so much about the film.  Instead of the flashy one liners and intense interrogation scenes, we’re presented with the simplicity of isolation and acceptance of whatever fate you seem destined to.

The style of the film absolutely floors me.  The first ten minutes are completely void of dialogue, the reliance on cinematography and acting is put forth for the viewer to entangle themselves in.  The minimalistic style being quite obvious and perfect for the type of film that Jean-Pierre was attempting to portray.  The shots are long and daunting, irrefutable evidence of the helpless lifestyle our protagonist is experiencing.  His home filled with simple, flat colors and a lack of any sort of personality present further stresses the fact of how lonely and hopeless he is.  No family, no real friends, the reality of life swirling around like an avoidable tornado.  Though, he doesn’t seem to mind.  That’s were his true nature shines without ever actually spoon feeding the information to us.  He lives the life of a modern day samurai, discipline and responsibility outshining the minuscule obligations of societies pathetic regulations.  His morals and wisdom surpass anything that modern society would hold in high esteem, unfathomable by anyone but himself.  This, in turn, leads him down the barren path he treads throughout the entire film.

As the story unravels and the characters are further delved into, the story suddenly strays from its linear storyline with the poetic finale, the provocative hindrance of society leading the protagonist towards the inevitable.  I won’t go into any detail of the ending, but it’s absolutely perfect in every possible way.  It further solidifies his purpose in life, his mental decadence subtly shredding down to the final moments of his well being.  At first, it comes without any real purpose.  Almost suddenly and unexpectedly it seems, no real purpose or drive.  As the film replays itself in your mind, on fast forward and repeat, it begins to make perfect sense.  The unexpected morphs into the completely obvious, it’s just the characters apathetic behavior controls what emotions and thoughts the viewer is allowed to witness.

Overall, an excellent film worthy of at least one viewing.  While I cannot recommend this to your average crime/drama fanatic, I can say that anyone interested in top-notch french cinema should make a valiant effort to see this.  Fantastic cinematography, superb acting, a tight script, and an underrated director mesh together seamlessly to craft one of histories greatest foreign crime films.

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