Le Cercle Rouge (M) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

Le Cercle Rouge at The Revival House Perth

Corey (Alain Delon) emerges from prison with a meticulously planned heist already forming in his mind—robbing the Place Vendôme jewelry store, a seemingly impregnable target. On his way to Paris, he crosses paths with Vogel (Gian Maria Volontè), an escaped convict who hides in the trunk of his car while fleeing the relentless Inspector Mattei (Bourvil). Despite their chance meeting, Corey recognizes a kindred spirit and offers Vogel sanctuary. To pull off the impossible heist, they recruit Jansen (Yves Montand), a former police marksman now drinking himself into oblivion, haunted by delirium tremens and his own demons. As the three men prepare for the robbery with clockwork precision, Mattei circles closer, following an inexorable path toward confrontation. In Jean-Pierre Melville's fatalistic universe, all men are bound by an invisible circle, drawn together by destiny toward an inevitable, tragic conclusion.

Jean-Pierre Melville's 1970 masterpiece represents the pinnacle of French crime cinema, a film of such visual austerity and existential weight that it transcends the heist genre entirely. The legendary jewelry store robbery unfolds in nearly wordless, methodical detail over 30 minutes—a symphony of professionalism, tension, and criminal artistry that influenced countless filmmakers. Henri Decaë's stark cinematography bathes the film in cool blues and grays, creating a nocturnal world where honor among thieves is the only morality that matters. Delon's ice-cold stoicism, Volontè's coiled intensity, and Montand's trembling vulnerability create an unforgettable trinity of doomed men. Melville strips away sentimentality, leaving only the essential: trench coats, fedoras, loaded silences, and the iron code binding these criminals together even as fate closes in. Éric Demarsan's spare score punctuates rather than overwhelms, letting silence speak volumes.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Sunday, March 29th at 5:45PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Medium level violence)

Melville's austere crime masterpiece—men bound by fate, honor, and an invisible circle closing around them. Essential French noir in 35mm film.

Presented by: The Revival House Perth