Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List
Spoiler-free premise
A young car thief kills a policeman and tries to persuade a girl to hide in Italy with him.
Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free+
Small-time thief Michel Poiccard kills a police officer after stealing a car and hides in Paris while seeking money to flee to Italy. He reconnects with American student Patricia Franchini, who sells newspapers and remains uncertain about joining him.
Why it belongs
Jean-Luc Godard makes jump cuts, street shooting, direct address, and Belmondo and Seberg's cool uncertainty feel like cinema inventing itself mid-stride.
Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case+
Handheld Paris streets, available light, jump cuts, improvised dialogue, newspaper culture, and looks toward the camera discard polished continuity. Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg transform imitation, desire, and detachment into modern screen behavior.
Major award wins
No verified wins in this six-institution crosswalk.
Awards are reference metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Good for
Film Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.
Institutional reference ranks
Sight & Sound38IMDb Top 250—AFI 100—
Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score
Great Cinema Master List scores
Greatness9.3
Engagement8.5
Ease8.0
French · Not Rated Narrative Feature Mood: Tense & Absorbing
