In a brilliant piece of casting, celebrated French chanteur Charles Aznavour stars in Truffaut’s whip-smart, scintillating second film – a combination of mischievous, tongue-in-cheek homage to American noir and effervescent, inventive Nouvelle Vague techniques. Having left behind his life as a gifted concert pianist, Charlie is resigned to spending his days tinkling the ivories in a dingy Parisian jazz bar. One day, his brother Chico, a petty criminal, arrives, searching for sanctuary from a gang of crooks that he’s double-crossed. Charlie offers to help but soon finds his murky past catching up with him.

Notes by David O Mahony

This film screens as part of the François Truffaut season, May 7th to 31st.