The French knew how to construct their star vehicles - here is a movie for Alain Delon and Simone Signoret, playing parts that perfectly suit their persona: Delon is a drifter out of prison who goes to work for an older widow, Signoret. He starts banging her - but then also gets into the teenage mum (Ottavia Piccolo) who lives next door, whose nasty parents want Signoret's land.
The relationship between Signoret and Delon is quite touching - she's older, earth, Signoret-y - he's been around the block and knows the score, but develops a soft spot for Delon. Delon is an aging flash harry, a man with a mysterious past and not much future.
It's set in 1934 - there's probably a lot of social context I'm unaware of, though I did pick up on the anti-Semitic, anti communist hysteria of the time. The last act, where the police surround the farm and try to capture Delon, and he tries to escape but goes back to Signoret, is very effective. Nicely shot with impressive locations. I dont know much about director Pierre Granier Deferre but felt he did a good job
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