Le Samouraï

IL N'Y A PAS DE PLUS PROFONDE 

SOLITUDE QUE 

CELLE DE SAMOURAI SI

CE N'EST CELLE D'UN

TIGRE DANS LA JUNGLE....

PEUT-ETRE....

                                            LE BUSHIDO 

                                                         (LE LIVRE DES SAMOURAI)

         This film displays the precision and perfection of an assassin named Jef Costello.  It opens it's curtains to an original proverb and a bird chirping in a lifeless apartment with a lonesome, stoic Costello smoking. The hatted and trenched Costello paces his way through every situation unfazed as though he has overcome the fear of death. There are two women, Jane Lagrange and Valerie. These women protect Costello through what seems to be a pointless commitment, to answer their own questions of curiosity and romance.  The imagery is cold, the police relentless, and the piano driven jazz charming.  Castello displays an apathetic demeanor that spirals to a fate of guile.  Le Samouraï proves sparse amounts of dialogue can whisper volumes when non-verbal cues take over.  This is a film for every gentlemans' repertoire and will lead to a personal self evaluation.  One should appreciate Le Samouraï for it's austere and old fashioned nature reminiscent of a young Burgundy. 

Un film Français de Jean-Pierre Melville. 1967