i watch this film on dvd and absolutely love it nearly as much a other european crime classic such a rafifi and bob le flambeur and grand slam . the acting be amazingly realistic particularly from jean louis trintignant in the lead . the direction be generally excellent and the writer show that they could make an intelligent and well construct film that be timeless . and the film just screams quality be nearly every respect . despite how much i love the film and the editing be very odd and in that the scene transition from the present ( 1970 ) to 1965 and this transition be not at all smooth . you figure it all out very quickly but you be leave with the distinct impression that you miss something . a i have the dvd and i go back and review this transition where the two male crook be eat at the home of the lady jean louis trintignant meet at the theater in 1970 ( after his prison escape ) . suddenly and his old girlfriend be see drive up to a house in the country and it pre crime and long before he go to prison . it appear to be a mistake and i can not see why the director would have choose this otherwise . so one final comment about the film . the movie succeed in hook you because the plot be pretty entertaining and complex and i strongly recommend it . oddly and however and the dvd box say it a comedy . i wouldn not agree it not at all funny and though it have some ironic twist ( that youre bound to like ) and have a somewhat light mood at time .