Le combat dans l'île

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A hidden gem of 1960s New French Cinema, Alain Cavalier’s Le combat dans l’île is as coolly modern as it is tensely gripping. Filled with thrilling plot twists, jazzy gun battles and stormy betrayals, this scintillating neo-noir unfolds against a backdrop of ’60s political turmoil and is strikingly shot in stark black and white by legendary cinematographer Pierre Lhomme (Army of Shadows, The Mother and the Whore).

The charismatic, surly son of a wealthy industrialist, Clément (Jean-Louis Trintignant, of Z and The Conformist) leads a double life as a member of a right-wing extremist organization. When he’s ratted out after a failed assassination attempt on a prominent politician, Clément and his long-suffering wife Anne (the luminous German screen siren Romy Schneider) flee Paris to the idyllic country home of his childhood friend, pacifist print-maker Paul (Henri Serre, of Jules and Jim). As affection blossoms between Paul and Anne, the emotional as well as political tensions soar—and eventually explode. –Zeitgeist Films

Alain Cavalier

Alain Cavalier (also known as Alain Fraisse) was born 1931 in Vendome, France. He studied film at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques (IDHEC) in Paris and then started out assisting directors Edouard Molinaro and Louis Malle. In 1958 he directed his first solo film Un American, a featurette. The critical and commercial reception to the film was lukewarm. He directed the famous movie – Catherine Deneuve vehicle – La Chamade in 1968. He won eleven Awards in his career icluding the César Award for Best Film and César Award for Best Director for his film Thérèse in 1987. —docalliancefilms

Caro_its

30Jan13

Alain Cavalier made his first movie about terrorism and fascism while France is still in war with Algeria. Quite unusual to see a very bad guy in a leading role. Beautiful black and white (cinematography by Pierre Lhomme), Romy Schneider is also really gorgeous.