Review of Pickpocket (1959) by Barry S — 04 Oct 2007
Not just an obscure French film. It inspired Martin Scorsese (particularly in Raging Bull and Taxi Driver) , Paul Schrader (particularly in American Gigolo), and Walter Hill (particularly in The Driver).
Loosely adapted from Dostoyevsky (Crime and Punishment). Beuatiful but understated black and white photograph and barque sound track. A lonely introspective young man is obsessed with crime, including its art and history.
He steals from his mother and a synpathetic detective tries to get him to confess. A sinister silent youngb man draws him into a world of artistic pick pocketing. He rejects the love of a girl who becomes pregnant by his best friend.
He runs away from paris. He goes to prison and is ready to love the girl. All invested with the deepest emotion in the most austere cinematic language. Religion often appearts in Bresson's films. he was a self-descrined Catholic atheist.
This review of Pickpocket (1959) was written by Barry S on 04 Oct 2007.
Pickpocket has generally received very positive reviews.
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