LE GITAN/ GYPSY
France, 1975, 102 minutes, Colour.
Alain Delon, Paul Meurisse, Annie Girardot, Renato Salvatori, Bernard Girardeau.
Directed by José Giovanni.
Alain Delon was a significant figure in French Cinema during the 1970s and into the 1980s. He also appeared in the number of Italian films as well as a number of American films. With his good looks and his screen manner, he could appear as hero or villain or as a mixture of both. he was to be the star of some significant crime films by director Jean- Pierre Melville.
This film comes in the middle of this period, perhaps a minor contribution to the crime genre, but interesting in its focus on the world of the Gypsies.
There is quite an opening shot, helicopter view of people on holidays enjoying swimming in the sea, the helicopter then tracking over the people on the beach itself, sunbaking, continuing over the seaside town, homes and factories until finally landing on the site of the Gypsy camp at the edge of the town. The film is making a stand on prejudice against Gypsy communities, presumptions that they are involved in crime (and often they were as here) and their continually being moved on.
Parallel to this introduction to the Gypsies is a scene where a veteran safe cracker is at work, finding a haul of jewellery, going home to find that his wife is on the phone, in fact having an affair with a policeman, where he whips her and she confronts him by sitting on the edge of the balcony and then falling to her death.
The film shows the police, under the lead of veteran actor Marcel Bozuffi (The French Connection), pursuing the safe cracker as well as Hugo, the Gypsy criminal, played by Delon. By chance, the paths of the two intersect bringing complications in the police pursuit.
The film is of interest and takes its place among the Delon thrillers of the 1970s.
1. French crime thriller, police thriller of the 1970s?
2. The presence of Alain Delon, his influence on French Cinema, on crime films?
3. The contemporary setting, the long opening sequence, overview, the beach, people enjoying swimming, sunbaking, the helicopter continuing over the town, the change of atmosphere, the factories, finally coming to the gypsy camp?
4. The title, the focus on Gypsies and their status in Europe, in France, the 1970s? Antagonism? The role of the police, suspicions and prejudices, thieves, criminals, moving them on? The film as a stand for Gypsies?
5. The French atmosphere, the town, the camp, apartment blocks, police precincts, provincial towns, the coast, the beaches, the clubs, hotels? The musical score?
6. The focus on Hugo, and Alain Delon character, his appearance, in hiding from the police, concealed by his father, his playfulness with the young boy, relationships with the women? His associates, his reliance on them, advice? The robberies and the daring in daylight, his not being disguised? Robbing the truck? The background of being in prison, the prisoner who supported the police, tracking him down, confronting him, shooting him by the water? The further robberies? Discussions with his friends, clashes? His reliance on them? In the town, the criminal brothers, reporting to the police where he was, his tracking them down, the glass of water, confronting them, shooting?
7. The focus on Yan, his age, criminal background, prison? The safe, the police associates? The robbery? Taking the brooch? Coming back to his wife, on the phone, her affair, his whipping her, certifying him, sitting on the ledge, her falling? The police blaming him for her death? His associates, selling the jewels, his lawyers and their advice? His leaving the town, lying low, holiday? The chance encounter with Hugo? At the restaurant, his friendship and interactions with Ninie? The interview with the police chief? His shielding the gypsy for the night? Giving him the car keys? Confronting the policeman who had the affair with his wife? Portrait of the criminal?
8. The police chief, the meetings with his staff, surveillance, interactions with the officer who had the affair with the safe-cracker’s wife? Communications, photos? His attitude towards Hugo? On-the-job, tracking down the safe-cracker for the murder, but more for the robbery? Tracking down the Gypsy? The raids? The confrontation in the apartment corridor, Hugo getting the gun, getting the keys of the car, letting the policeman go? The continued pursuit? The personalities of the police, especially the man who had the affair?
9. Hugo and his friends, their being shot, taken to hospital, Hugo and his own wound, approaching the vet, the gun, offering him money, the vet warning him about being arrested, having the honour not to take the money?
10. The return, giving the money to the other Gypsies?
11. Yan, with Ninie, kept by the police for a fortnight, not entering his name in the book? Giving her the money?
12. The film in the style of French crime dramas of the period?
