Rififi
...Means Trouble!
Overview
Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony turns down a quick job his friend Jo offers him, until he discovers that his old girlfriend Mado has become the lover of local gangster Pierre Grutter during Tony's absence. Expanding a minor smash-and-grab into a full-scale jewel heist, Tony and his crew appear to get away clean, but their actions after the job is completed threaten the lives of everyone involved.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
As one of the earliest films to depict a detailed heist sequence, Rififi played a significant role in influencing the genre. Its French-Algerian setting during the decolonization period provides an interesting cultural backdrop that reflects societal tensions and changes.
- Exceptional heist sequences that were groundbreaking for their time, captivating performances by the cast, complex and nuanced plot development, exploration of themes such as crime, morality, and redemption
Fun Facts
- The iconic 30-minute long uninterrupted heist sequence was filmed in a single take, using multiple cameras to piece together the seamless footage. The film's title 'Rififi' is actually slang for 'Arabs' in French, but the term is not used in a derogatory manner within the movie's context.
- The film inspired numerous remakes and homages, most notably the 1981 American film 'The Friends of Eddie Coyle', which shares similar themes and criminal underworld depictions.