Du rififi chez les hommes (Dassin, 1955)

Du rififi chez les hommes (Dassin, 1955) - DTC #378

A jewel heist goes well but every one of the gangsters has a weak spot - for one its women, for another its his family.

Two things are worth intense studying in this film: the extreme dryness and distance of the violent characters with each other for one. There is an undefinable politeness between the characters, even they oppose each other to death. I also loved how the criminals are entangled in something like a very middle-class private life, and that they go to work their job like any other occupation. Even when they kill each other it happens as a sort of duty they are forced to perform for higher powers.

The actual break-in is a long and very suspenseful, totally silent sequence. Especially the humorful elements such as the unfolding umbrella and the comical use of the fire extinguisher left a great impression.

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