Legendary French film director François Truffaut had a reputation for taking audiences on journeys steeped in character and intrigue. Shoot the Pianist (Tirez sur le pianeste) is perhaps the finest example of Truffaut’s strength as a storyteller, showcasing his ability to absorb viewers through pure cinema.
It tells the story of a once great pianist by the name of Eduardo Saroyan (played by popular ’50s singer, Charles Aznavour). Saroyan is down on his luck. Changing his name to Charlie Kohler, he finds himself performing in Parisian dive bars, tragedy having ended a formerly successful musical career. However, when Charlie helps his gangster brother Richard (Jean-Jacques Aslanian) escape the clutches of a pair of ruthless yet comedic criminals, he and his lover Lena (Marie Dubois) find themselves in jeopardy. Charlie becomes a hunted man, the resulting tension drawing the viewer in and allowing Truffaut to express himself as a master director.
It would be easy to look at Shoot the Pianist as a straight example of French film noir – long, dark shadows, unconventional camera angles, flashbacks and hoarse voiceovers are all present – however, Shoot the Pianist is as much a crime comedy as it is a crime drama. Indeed, the men that pursue Aznavour’s protagonist spend more time longing after woman and deliberating love than they do appearing as a menacing presence. This light-hearted approach is to the film’s benefit, showing us a depth of character lurking behind the evil.
Shoot the Pianist was originally released in 1960 and this first time UK Blu-Ray release comes complete with Special Features including audio commentaries from cinematographer Raoul Coutard and star Marie Dubois. There is also a short but informative introduction by critic Serge Toubiana. If you are interested in French Nouvelle Vague cinema then this is a perfect place to start.