Police Python 357

From celebrated director Alain Corneau, Police Python 357 is a cerebral twist on the classic Seventies police movie, starring  cinematic powerhouses and then-married couple Yves Montand  and Simone Signoret.

This policier tells the story of Marc Ferrot (Yves Montand), a detective who finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit. After a chance meeting with young and beautiful Sylvia (Stefania Sandrelli), which leads to a passionate affair,  Ferrot (Montand) is devastated when he learns that she has been murdered. Assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death, Ferrot must battle his own demons as he struggles to uncover the truth.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Garay (François Périer), Ferrot's superior and Sylvia's true killer attempts to frame Ferrot for the crime he has committed, unaware of the couple's previous liaison. This complex game of deceit and betrayal is watched over by Garay's wife, Thérèse (Simone Signoret), whose frail physical health belies her shrewd nature. 

Filmed in Montand's hometown of Orléans, Police Python 357's grim and gritty locations are a perfect match for the film's down-beat tone. From the casting to the location to the music, every aspect of this film has been extensively thought through and perfectly executed.

Despite Police Python 357 being only his second feature film, Corneau's directorial choices here demonstrate the restraint and maturity which undoubtedly paved the way for his later success ( The Second Wind, Série Noire, Le Cousin). While it might have seemed like a no-brainer to cast his two stars as lovers, Montand and Signoret hardly ever share the screen.

Montand delivers an outstanding performance as maverick loner Ferrot, crushed by grief and abused by authority. Simone Signoret, meanwhile, provides a beautifully understated performance, cementing her reputation as one of the most iconic French actresses of all time.

Corneau's thriller will keep you gripped to the very end.