This is a film which I had not even heard of before a kind fellow IMDb user sent me a copy. It fits under the neo-noir bracket; more specifically it's an example of French noir, of which there seemed to be quite a few released in the 1960's. Its story follows an ex-convict who has just been released from prison; he has a chance encounter with a married Italian woman who invites him back to her flat. Later they go back out drinking but when they return they discover the body of the woman's husband in the apartment, murdered. In typical noir fashion, there are a few surprises yet around the corner.
This moody Gallic thriller takes place over the course of one winter night in Paris. Christmas festivities form a backdrop to events but there is little holiday cheer to be found in the story, although a key clue to the mysterious goings on ties in with a seemingly irrelevant Christmas item. That, along with the significant role played by the elevator that services the warehouse like apartment building where most of the key action takes place, forms the bones of the clever narrative. There is a nice gloomy atmosphere to this one which helps create an effective mood, while the twist in the story really is quite unusual and smart. It ensures that this one dovetails into a very satisfying ending and makes you want to watch the movie again to see it unfold with the benefit of foreknowledge.
