Episode 42: Le samourai (1967)
"He's a lone wolf." "He's a wounded wolf; now there will be a trail. He must be disposed of quickly." French director Jean-Pierre Melville may not be known to modern audiences, but in France in the 1960's he was a true popular and independent filmmaker, two things that could paradoxically spell success for a director at that time and place. "Le samourai" (1967) features nary a samurai (nor anything else Japanese, for that matter). It's about a hitman named Jef who finds himself the target of a client after completing a job for him. A thriller with obvious neorealist influences, it's a tight portrait of a lonely professional with bare necessities...and a twist ending! Have a question or comment for the host? Email Sean at 1001moviespodcast@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter @1001MoviesPC, and look for the podcast's Facebook page.