Classe Tous Risques

I saw this French film in the theater earlier this week. I'm a fan of 1960's French New Wave Noir and this is one of the classics. I was disappointed. Having seen Elevator to the Gallows, Breathless, and Rififi, this film just didn't measure up.

First, the ending was very much a let down. It had a voice-over explaining what happened to the main character. But that was just the end to a consistently disappointing movie. The characters never reached the level of desperation that one would expect. Overall, the plot is tight and there are some nice performances but the film never hits it stride IMO.

Synopsis - 2 fugitive Frenchmen commit a robbery in Milan. After escaping, they decide they must leave Italy. They steal a boat and head for France with wife and 2 kids in tow. When they arrive in France, there is a shootout with local police. Wife and accomplice are killed. That leave Abel and his two boys. Relying on semi-supportive, former criminal associates, Abel eludes the police. He feels betrayed by his associates (eventually, he is betrayed) and makes friends with a young turk. He ships off his sons to live with a family friend. Eventually, he is cornered by the cops but he escapes and then the voice over narration wrapping up the details. If anything, the movie is relevant for showing the criminals as family men with everyday concerns. Despite their traditional home lives, they have very serious legal and criminal problems. They can show brutality one moment and tenderness/compassion the next. I guess that nuanced portrayal has become a standard since but I've seen it done better in later films.

Anyway, if anyone has thoughts on Classe Tous Risques or French Noir of the 50's and 60's, I'd be interested in reading what you think.