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Mr. Klein

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7.3/10 • 236

1976-09-232h 3m

MysteryDramaHistoryThriller

In the nightmare labyrinth of the Occupation

Paris, France, 1942, during the Nazi occupation. Robert Klein, a successful art dealer who benefits from the misfortunes of those who are ruthlessly persecuted, discovers by chance that there is another Robert Klein, apparently a Jewish man; someone with whom he could be mistakenly identified, something dangerous in such harsh times.

Directors
Joseph Losey
Editors
Henri Lanoë

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Alain Delon

    Alain Delon

    Mr. Robert Klein

  2. Jeanne Moreau

    Jeanne Moreau

    Florence Klein

  3. Francine Bergé

    Francine Bergé

    Nicole

  4. Juliet Berto

    Juliet Berto

    Jeanine

  5. Jean Bouise

    Jean Bouise

    Seller

  6. Suzanne Flon

    Suzanne Flon

    Doorwoman

  7. Massimo Girotti

    Massimo Girotti

    Charles

  8. Michael Lonsdale

    Michael Lonsdale

    Pierre

  9. Michel Aumont

    Michel Aumont

    Jew Affairs Section Official

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Nov 5, 2023

7/10

Alain Delon is near his best as the eponymous, rather odious, art dealer quite happily fleecing the terrified Jewish community of their precious possessions at cut race prices as they make preparations to try and flee the Nazi occupation of Paris. It's when one such victim is leaving his elegant apartment one day that "Klein" notices a Jewish newspaper at his door - with his name on it! He goes to the police to make it clear that he is not the "Robert Klein" on the address, but do they believe him? Do they think that perhaps he is trying to pull the wool over their eyes too? He concludes that the only way he can be certain is to track down the real doppelgänger before he ends up suffering the same dispossession and deportation as those he had thus far all too readily exploited. One can never have enough of Jeanne Moreau and her role as the enigmatic "Florence" is a little undercooked here, but as the rest of this complex thriller builds up steam we see Joseph Losey using Delon, and our own appreciation of just how terrifying it must have been for most during the occupation let alone the Jewish population, as weapons to potently reveal that terror and to ultimately maybe even humanise - as well as, perhaps, ridicule - this most venal and shallow of men. Is he now the hunted? Can he escape with his life? The more he thinks he has swum away from danger, the more the maelstrom seems to embrace him - and that catch 22 scenario is enthralling to watch play out here. It's cleverly photographed with a score that augments our own - and his - sense of increasing peril and frustration and though it's perhaps just a little slow at the start, it turns into a cracker.

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  • Mr. Klein backdrop
  • Mr. Klein backdrop
  • Mr. Klein backdrop
  • Mr. Klein backdrop
  • Mr. Klein backdrop
  • Mr. Klein backdrop
  • Mr. Klein backdrop

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Status
Released
Original Language
French
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
paris, franceworld war iijew persecutionart dealerdoppelgängerpolice raidnazi collaborationismnazi occupation1940s