The Samourai

“There is no greater solitude than that of the samurai unless it is that of the tiger in the jungle... Perhaps...” (Bushido, Book of the Samurai). This fictitious quote opens Jean-Paul Melville’s immortal masterpiece of 1967. Jef Costello (Alain Delon in one of the greatest roles of his career), is a cold and meticulous hit man. Having completed a mission for a crime organization, he finds himself caught up in an ongoing struggle between the gangsters who hired him and the police who’re on his tail. In his unique, measured style, Melville follows his lonely hero’s daily routine on the streets of Paris. The film, which combines American Film Noir, French Pop culture, and Japanese mythology, has been noted by many as one of the greatest of all times. 

The film’s premiere screening (14.7) is part of the Retrospective launch event with the participation of Serge Toubiana and Dan Fainaru.