This is a great satire of fin de siecle European society, but satire is not always funny. In fact, this is a tragedy along classic Greek lines, something which only becomes apparent in the final scenes, which give the lie to those critics who accuse Malle of being too sympathetic to his protagonist(s). Some criticize Belmondo's rather flat affect, but I believe that this is intentional, and an essential element of the tragedy. The film is widely recognized as satitirizing the bourgeoisie, but many miss the way it also satirizes the would-be Marxism of some of the protagonists. It is beautifully filmed, with a beautiful, all-star cast. By modern standards, it is a slow film, without much excitement, but it is worth watching, if you have the patience to watch it all the way to the end.
Review of The Thief of Paris
