Le gitan (1975)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

José Giovanni

Writers:

José Giovanni (novel)
José Giovanni (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 December 1975 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Hugo Sennart is a French Gypsy, wanted by the police for theft. The same inspector who's searching for him is also looking for a jewel thief...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Alain Delon	...	Hugo Sennart, Le Gitan
Paul Meurisse	...	Yan Kuq
Annie Girardot	...	Ninie
Marcel Bozzuffi	...	Policeman Blot
Bernard Giraudeau	...	Mareuil
Renato Salvatori	...	Jo Amila, dit "Jo le boxeur"
Maurice Barrier	...	Jacques Helman
Maurice Biraud	...	Pierrot le naïf
Nicolas Vogel	...	Jeannot
Michel Fortin	...	Marcel
Pierre Danny	...	Riquet
Adolfo Lastretti	...	A brother Rinaldi
Rino Bolognesi	...	A brother Rinaldi
Jacques Rispal	...	Docteur J. Weiss, le vétérinaire
Mario David	...	Bob

Also Known As:

Lo zingaro (Italy)
The Gypsy (International: English title)

Runtime:

France:102 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M

Company:

Adel Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Les grandes bouches (1999)

A very good film whose ending may leave many flat.

I could tell when I was watching this film that THE GYPSY would probably not appeal to many people for two main reasons. First, the film is a rather amoral affair--taking a very neutral view of crime and the police. If you are looking for a pro-police sort of film, this certainly isn't it. Second, the ending will simply infuriate those who need a sense of closure. Neither of these things particularly bothered me, but I am sure many will find these serious shortcomings to overlook.

The film centers around two career criminals whose stories never intersect until near the end. Le Gitan ("The Gypsy") is played by Alain Delon and he is a man who feels that because society has no respect or place for Gypsies (which he is one), then he has no obligations towards society. He is not a rampant murderer, but more of a man who feels no guilt about stealing and robbing from what he sees as a corrupt system. Paul Meurisse plays Yan Kuq. He's more of a professional criminal--one who could care less about society one way or another--he simply is out to take what he wants and live the life of a gentleman criminal.

As far as the film goes, it never goes in great depth about the criminals or police. Instead, it shows them "doing their thing" with no commentary or apparent position on who is right or wrong. This amoral approach, though unusual, actually works well because it adds to the film's realism. This is a world where crime MIGHT pay and the evil-doers MIGHT live happily ever after! In many ways, it is a bit like Film Noir updated to the 1970s and without the same conventions and clichés. It is unflinching and unromantic from start to finish, but never dull.