Le Doulos, the 1963 film by French director Jean-Pierre Melville, is showing at the BFI in London at the moment. Allegedly the favourite filmscript of Quentin Tarantino (not necessarily an endorsement) this is a remarkable film, filled with knowing and lingering camera shots (particularly on hats, as the title refers to both a French word for hat and French slang for police informant). This is noir without the glamour, an unremitting and relentless plot which eventually leaves no-one a winner. Look at the still below: Serge Reggiani and Philippe March can barely withstand the intense gaze from Jean-Paul Belmondo. And let’s not even get started on those raincoats.
