Le Professionnel tells us a story of a secret agent Josselin Beaumont (Jean-Paul Belmondo) sent to assassinate president N’Jala (Pierre Saintons), the dictator in Malagawi, a fictional state somewhere in Africa. However, after Joss leaves France, the political situation between France and Malagawi somehow changes and the French cabinet is obliged to report Malagawi about Joss so they know about his arrival and therefore can take appropriate action. The rest of the film is about fulfilling the given command by any means. His intention of assassinating N’Jala remains unchanged.
Le Professionnel (In English: The Professional) is a 1981 French action thriller directed by French director Georges Lautner, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Desailly and Robert Hossein, based on the award-winning 1976 novel Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal by Patrick Alexander.
The film was a wide commercial success upon its theatrical release, with 5,243,559 tickets sold, making it the fourth most watched feature film in France in 1981 behind La Chèvre, Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Fox and the Hound. The music was composed by Ennio Morricone and the main theme “Chi Mai” became an instrumental hit.
Le Professionnel (1981)
Directed by: Georges Lautner
Starring: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Robert Hossein, Bernard-Pierre Donnadieu, Jean Desailly, Cyrielle Clair, Elisabeth Margoni, Marie-Christine Descouard, Jean-Louis Richard, Michel Beaune
Screenplay by: Michel Audiard, Georges Lautner, Jacques Audiard
Production Design by: Eric Moulard
Cinematography by: Henri Decaë
Film Editing by: Michelle David
Costume Design by: Paulette Breil
Set Decoration by: Philippe Turlure
Music by: Ennio Morricone
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Gaumont
Release Date: October 21, 1981
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