Solo — Solo( Blu Ray)
Solo is an early 70’s French crime thriller about a charming/ womanizing violinist come part-time jewel thief, trying to hunt down his wayward brother. He is part of a leftist revolutionary group that's been accused of gunning down an orgy consisting of old rich men & underage girls. It’s a pacy & eventful film, set over one night- with shifting locations, plenty of stealth going on, as well as chases, gunplay & fights- though for all of its vigour, there’s a rather forlorn thread running through it all. Here on Radiance- both in the UK and Stateside- is a recent Blu-ray release of the film. Featuring a new 4k scan, a selection of archive interviews- both on the disc and in the inlay booklet.
Solo is from the year 1970 and is directed, co-written, and stars Nice born Jean-Pierre Mocky- who was both a prolific actor (92 credits), director (82 credits), and writer (72 credits). His work moved across both genres and arthouse film; examples of this can be found in the excellent The Agitator: Three Provocations from the Wild World of Jean-Pierre Mocky box set, also on Radiance, which took in the horror, mystery and fantasy mix of Litan. Thriller/ dark comedy/ action blend of Kill The Referee, and quirkily edged mystery/ thriller Agent Trouble.
The one-hour-and-twenty-five-minute film kicks off in a decidedly low-key manner. We have a nighttime panning shot of parked cars and glimpses of a single floating red balloon in a half-lit room. We drift inside, seeing a selection of young women & old men involved in lulling/ drunk orgy- the sleazy air is broken as the windows are smashed, rifles are pushed in, and everyone is gunned down.
Fairly soon, we are introduced to our lead, Vincent Cabral (Mocky), who is just finishing off a show playing his violin on a cruise ship. He enters his on-board bathroom, unrolling his toothpaste to reveal jewels hidden within, which he hides away in his instrument- before slipping through customs and getting off the ship. He gets paid for the jewels, and his first port of call is to go & see his younger student brother Virgile (Denis Le Guillou), who is one of the main members of a revolutionary group
Brought in to investigate the mass shooting is a stern, wire-framed-glasses, and buzz-cut detective who is also on the trail of Virgile, as he is mentioned in a cut-up text letter sent after the massacre.
So, the film unfolds with both brother and detective setting up the chase for the elusive Virgile. We move from crowded restaurants to shadowy car interiors. Through murky junk yards, local bars, roadblocks, on top of lorries, onto train carriages. With gunplay, fights, and a rather downbeat resolve.
Mocky plays a charming, if slightly sleazy think on his feet chance- constantly darting from shadow to shadow and doorway to doorway. The rest of the cast is good/ well placed too.
Solo is a pacy and eventful euro-crime thriller, clearly taking influences from the US examples of the genre, but giving it its own creative twists & turns- all finished off with the distinctly French revolutionary theme.
The region-free disc features a 4 K scan; this is well defined in its colouring & depth of picture, even in the film's many nighttime scenes. The balance of the French dialogue and score is good, with clear/ easy to read subtitles too.
Extras-wise, on the disc we have three archive interviews that are worth a play. Jean-Pierre Mocky(12.55): this is a 2018 interview, where we find out how the idea for the film came about after overhearing a conversation with a few teens in a café saying that we can’t let the revolution fizzle out. He talks about the film's score and how it was informed by Greek Partisan music. He discusses how all the other actors were unknowns. How the film played at Cannes over two showings to over 2,000 people. And more. Anne Deleuze (17.28), a 2022 interview with the actress who played one of the female revolutionaries. She talks about the first time she went for the role, she was turned down, but she went back two weeks later she was offered it. We find out she had barely any acting experience, and there were no rehearsals. We find out the film itself was tough and cold; she got the red trench coat she wears in the film from Mocky’s wife. Eric Le Roy (14.51) a 2022 interview with Mocky’s assistant/ friend. He moves from talking about how the film at hand was the first time Mocky returned to acting, after spending some time away because he wanted to focus on directing. He touches on how the film is original in its focus, as it’s about the aftermath of a real failed student revolution in May 1968. We find out the film was successful at the time of release, and that the character Vincent Cabral appeared in three other films.
The release comes with a twenty-eight-page inlay, which includes cast & crew details, two articles from the year 1970- born Jean-Pierre Mocky, The Maverick of French Cinema by Daniel Geldreich and an interview with Mocky by Max Tessier, transfer notes & credits, and some colour stills.
If you enjoy pacey nighttime set crime thrillers with shifting locations, then Solo is worth a look, and it's great to see Randaince reissue more of Mr Mocky’s work- here’s hoping for some more.