The Red Circle

Main Plot

"The Red Circle" is a French crime film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville that intricately weaves the lives of several characters entrenched in the criminal underworld of Paris. The story centers around Corey, a recently released prisoner who plans an elaborate jewelry heist. He teams up with Vogel, a fugitive hiding from the law, and Jansen, a former police sharpshooter with a troubled past. Together, they meticulously organize the robbery, demonstrating precision and the silent codes of honor among thieves. As they prepare and execute their plan, they are relentlessly pursued by a determined police inspector, Mattei, who is intent on capturing Vogel and solving the case. The film explores themes of fate, loyalty, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. The narrative builds to a tense and gripping climax, showcasing Melville's signature style of minimal dialogue, stark visuals, and a deep focus on the procedural elements of crime. "The Red Circle" is a classic example of the French film noir genre, highlighting the existential undercurrents and moral complexities of its characters.

Characters

• Alain Delon plays Corey, a recently released convict who plans and executes a meticulously organized jewel heist with two accomplices.
• Bourvil played Inspector Mattei, a determined police officer tracking a gang of thieves throughout the film.
• Gian Maria Volontè plays Vogel, an escaped prisoner who teams up with a thief and an ex-police sharpshooter to rob a jewelry store in Paris.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of Jean-Pierre Melville's film "The Red Circle" (Le Cercle Rouge), the meticulously planned heist by the protagonists Corey, Vogel, and Jansen culminates in a tense and dramatic finale. After successfully stealing a large collection of jewels, their escape plan begins to unravel due to a series of betrayals and the relentless pursuit by the police, led by the determined Inspector Mattei. The climax of the movie unfolds at a deserted place outside Paris, where the characters' fates intersect. Mattei, who has been methodically tracking the criminals, sets up a trap. As Corey, Vogel, and Jansen arrive to meet with a fence to sell the stolen jewels, they walk into the police ambush. A shootout ensues, resulting in the deaths of both Corey and Vogel. Jansen, who is terminally ill and deeply disillusioned, walks away from the scene, his fate left ambiguous. The film ends on a note of fatalism, with Mattei reflecting on the inevitability of the outcome and the cyclical nature of crime and punishment. The title "The Red Circle" symbolizes the inescapable destiny that binds the characters, suggesting that their paths were predestined to cross and culminate in tragedy.