short synopsis this film open with soldier be release from the company of men . one of them pursue another with a weird scheme the other repeatedly refuse . later they both get trap in an office building in which they want to crack a safe during the christmas holiday . hostility turn into playful banter and then into a desperate fight for survival ( during the bantering they lose all drinkable liquid and so it be really serious ) . with exposed and well build and well oil torso they ram a hole into a wall and finally manage to escape only to find out that they have be betray and set up by woman . one get catch and the other remain free and be not give away by his companion . a last encounter and a last light for a cigarette and adieu lami and farewell and friend . i find it hard not to see closet homosexual in the two main character and play by classical he man superstars alain delon and charles bronson . they be obviously attract to each other and their treatment of woman be abominable and mark by contempt throughout . the whole story seem to have a strong symbolic undertow and a little like deliverance . it be also very stylish . the safe the two men want to crack be in a for the time ultra modern glass and aluminum tower . it be the seat of a publicity firm and so there be many fancy poster and wall covering around . the wardrobe be also very good . the ultra stylish citroen d ( maybe the most modern and elegant car of all time ) feature large in this movie perhaps a subtle kind of product placement . i can recommend this movie for the actor performances alone . delon and bronson be really share the top billing and in a manner that strike me a very fair and sporting . both do a considerable amount of acrobatics . i have never see bronson well than here and he really act and speak french throughout and with a heavy accent buy very passably indeed . and it be certainly the man himself we hear . ( so the french language version be highly recommend ) . the police inspector who pursue the two be play by on of my favorite franch character actor and bernard fresson who be gene hackman partner in french connection ii . he be the best brainy police inspector i know . also very good be former child actress brigitte fossey a the young ingénue who and a it turn out and be not so innocent a it first seem . anyone who expect the old in an out of classical heist movie might be disappoint with this film . for those with a little patience this will be a rewarding experience and full of novel and original idea and directorial quirk and although it my be a little too brutal and sadistic for it own sake .