The film explores themes of institutional betrayal and the cold reality of realpolitik , where individuals are treated as expendable resources.
Written by Michel Audiard and Georges Lautner, with contributions from Jacques Audiard and script doctoring by Francis Veber.
( Le Professionnel ), released in 1981, is a quintessential French action thriller that solidified Jean-Paul Belmondo's status as a major 1980s action icon. Directed by Georges Lautner, the film is an adaptation of Patrick Alexander's 1976 novel Death of a Thin-Skinned Animal . Production Overview Director: Georges Lautner. The Professional(1981)
Critics often describe it as a blend of rugged action and cynical humor, carried largely by Belmondo's "smoldering intensity" and charisma. Critical Reception & Legacy Kino Lorber Studio Classics - Facebook
The story follows , a French secret agent sent to the fictional African nation of Malagawi to assassinate its dictator, President N'Jala. However, mid-mission, the political climate shifts, and the French government betrays Beaumont by handing him over to the local authorities to avoid diplomatic embarrassment. The film explores themes of institutional betrayal and
With a budget of approximately 20 million francs ($3.5 million), the film was a massive commercial success, selling over 5.2 million tickets in France and grossing roughly $63.4 million. Plot Summary
Ennio Morricone provided the score, featuring the iconic theme "Chi Mai," which became a classic instrumental hit. Directed by Georges Lautner, the film is an
After two years of imprisonment and forced labor, Beaumont escapes and returns to Paris. He contacts his former superiors and boldly informs them that he still intends to complete his original mission—assassinating N'Jala during his upcoming official visit to France—while simultaneously seeking revenge against those who abandoned him.