MAX AND THE JUNKMEN (MAX ET LES FERAILLEURS)

France, 1971, 98 minutes, Colour.
Romy Schneider, Michel Piccoli, Georges Wilson, Dominique Zardi, Bernard Fresson, Philippe Leotard.
Directed by Claude Sautet.

Max and the Junkmen is an early '70s film by veteran director Claude Sautet. Over 30 years Sautet made a number of dramas and romances which highlighted personalities and personal relationships and interactions. His films include The Things of Life, Vincent, Paul, Claude and the Others and in the early '90s, The Heart in Winter and Nellie and Mr Arnaud.

Max and the Junkmen stars two regulars of Sautet films, Romy Schneider and Michel Piccoli. Michel Piccoli portrays an obsessed policeman, totally devoted to duty, who has failed in making an arrest he desired. However, the opportunity comes for him to set up a criminal in order to arrest him and break a gang. However, the criminal is a past friend from military service days, played by Bernard Fresson. Fresson's girlfriend is Lily, a prostitute played by Romy Schneider.

Piccoli sets up an apartment in disguise, cultivates the prostitute, gets information as well as insinuates the possibilities for robberies for the gang. In the meantime he is getting information from the local police. The film comes to a dramatic head - perhaps only as the French can do - with an example of obsessive and mad love.

The film has Sautet's visual style as well as its serious and romantic undertones. It is a story of passion and obsession in the context of the police thriller.

1.The films of Claude Sautet? His interest in relationships and interactions? The touch of romance, portraits of love?

2.The French cities and their environments? The police headquarters? The streets? Bars and apartments? Workplaces? An atmosphere of realism? The atmosphere of the musical score?

3.The structure of the film and the initial situation, the flashbacks after the questions about Max and his personality and his madness?

4.Michel Piccoli as Max? The dedicated policeman, his lack of success in arrests? His obsession with justice and the law? His relationship with his superiors? His seeming obedience and being a man of the organisation? His lacking personality in himself?

5.The aftermath of the shootout, the deaths, Max's frustration, responsibility, desire to make arrests? The chance meeting with his friend? The discussions, the shared taxi? His finding out about the set-up and the stealing of the cars, about Lily? His decision to set up his friend? The taking of the apartment, his lifestyle, pretending to be a banker, employing Lily, their discussions? His leading her on, offering temptation, giving information to the group? The information from the police plant in the group via the detective?

6.The setting up of the robbery, its execution, things going well, the death? The arrests? His reaction in his friend's arrest? His concern about Lily? His going to the officer and pleading with him that she be let off? His refusal - and Max's madness, shooting the officer? His being led away, the obsessive look at Lily? The deep currents of his love and obsession, this taking precedence over his work and the meaning of his life? The finale and his madness, imprisonment?

7.The chief of police, skill at his work, his assistant? Sympathy for Max? The agreement for collaboration, going to the town of Nanterre, the police chief there, the information? His bewilderment at Max's behaviour?

8.The chief of police in Nanterre, his own ambitions, local authority, the collaboration? Interest in the group, the plant in the group, the passing on of information to Max? His harshness and refusal to let Lily go? His death?

9.The chance encounter with the friend from army days, his subsequent career, cars, the deals and the rackets? The set-up? His love for Lily, the questions about the robbery, the decision to go into it, the arrest?

10.The portrait of the gang, their work, the junk? Information about the deal, the robbery, their decision to go with it, the consequences?

11.The portrait of Lily, the German background, her relationship with her fiance? Her personal style, warmth? With Max, going to his apartment, the long discussions, the lack of sexual encounter? Her believing Max about the robbery - and yet her being prepared to betray him by setting up the gang? Her bewilderment at the end, the arrest - and her looking at Max after his killing the police chief for her?

12.How well did the film work as a police thriller, crime investigation, picture of amour fou?