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The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge)

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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Jean-Pierre Melville

Producer:

Robert Dorfmann

Release Date:

Jun 25, 2021

Runtime:

2hr 20m

Synopsis

After leaving prison, master thief Corey crosses paths with a notorious escapee and an alcoholic former policeman. The trio proceed to plot an elaborate heist.

Cast

  • Alain Delon
  • Bourvil
  • Gian Maria Volontè
  • Yves Montand
  • Paul Crauchet
  • Paul Amiot
  • Pierre Collet
  • André Ekyan
  • Jean-Pierre Posier
  • François Périer

Letterboxd User Reviews

4.2
93.9K
46.5K
31.2K
RATINGS 1.1K FANS
4.2
  • Mar 9, 2021

    "Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, drew a circle with a piece of red chalk and said: 'When men, even unknowingly, are to meet one day, whatever may befall each, whatever their diverging paths, on the said day, they will inevitably come together in the red circle.'” Jean…

    1.2K Likes
    Will Menaker
    Will Menaker
    Jan 31, 2021

    some things that are inherently cinematic: -trains -heists -alain delon’s face this has all three

    865 Likes
    anna
    anna
    Sep 1, 2024

    J’ai maté 3 Melville c’est bon je vais m’acheter un trench coat

    499 Likes
    Grimkujow
    Grimkujow
  •
    Jan 3, 2025

    The Silent Existentialism of Jean-Pierre Melville. It’s here that the mosaic of calm is constructed – many moves and entangled moralities, when crime is more of a stoic ritual in which men accept their limitations in the face of an impersonal cosmos. For Melville, his…

    473 Likes
    noen
    noen
    Aug 15, 2019

    A revisit thanks to The Cinematheque in Vancouver. Part of the Jean-Pierre Melville: Master of French Noir series. The new restoration looks great... I personally don't think the film is as beautifully shot as Army of Shadows but it's still gorgeous. The Jean-Pierre…

    419 Likes
    Sean Baker
    Sean Baker
    Nov 26, 2023

    alain delon and his silly little moustache

    324 Likes
    mary
    mary
  •
    Apr 28, 2021

    Le Circle Rouge—a pulp heist masterwork and also the definition of cool. Effortless.

    310 Likes
    Ian West
    Ian West
    Nov 17, 2013

    Finally, FINALLY, I’ve fallen in love with a Melville. I was beginning to think there was no hope for me. A few friends here had commented that Le Cercle Rouge had some scenes that were possibly a tribute to Jules Dassin’s 1955 crime / noir classic Rififi, which…

    292 Likes
    Jonathan White
    Jonathan White
    May 30, 2014

    Jean-Pierre Melville was a master stylist. His aesthetic leans toward cool, muted tones that provide a richness of depth to the darkest of colors while eliminating the natural vibrancy of brighter colors. His Paris is a hotbed of crime and quiet tragedy. His characters…

    277 Likes
    Rida
    Rida
See All Reviews on Letterboxd.com

Queue Community Reviews

91%
Community 774
❤️ LOVE
25%
👍 LIKE
66%
😐 MEH
5%
👎 DISLIKE
3%
Top Reviews
  • Jimmy Cricket
    Jimmy Cricket liked
    Le Cercle Rouge

    Unlike most films now, this is slow paced and takes time telling its story. The climactic heist scene lasts for 27 minutes without any dialogue; Director Jean-Pierre Melville was originally going to direct Rififi which might explain the similarities of both films silent heists.

    3Y
    Arthur Beaugeard
    Arthur Beaugeard liked
    Le Cercle Rouge

    A film about precision, honor, and inevitability, similar to Le Samouraï, although perhaps even more nihilistic in its worldview.

    3Y
    Rayan Ismail
    Rayan Ismail loved
    Le Cercle Rouge

    alian delon 💯

    5M
  • Silas Smith
    Silas Smith loved
    Le Cercle Rouge

    Amazing

    2Y
View More Popular Le Cercle Rouge Reviews on Queue

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

92
metacritic
Based on 19 Critics
8.2

USER SCORE (37)

Universal acclaim based on 37 Reviews
75

If you've got the patience, this is still one of the all-time exercises in cinematic cool.

View full review
Metacritic review by Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
80

A work of leisurely development and tragic inevitability.

View full review
Metacritic review by J. Hoberman
J. Hoberman
Village Voice
100

There is one cool, understated scene after another.

View full review
Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
See All Critic Reviews on Metacritic.com

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021)?
The movie is 2hr 20min long.
What's The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021) about?
After leaving prison, master thief Corey crosses paths with a notorious escapee and an alcoholic former policeman. The trio proceed to plot an elaborate heist.
Who's the cast of The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021)?
  • Alain Delon as Corey
  • Bourvil as Le Commissaire Francois Mattei
  • Gian Maria Volontè as Vogel
  • Yves Montand as Jansen
  • Paul Crauchet as Le Receleur
  • Paul Amiot as L'inspecteur général de la police
  • Pierre Collet as Le Gardien de prison
  • André Ekyan as Rico
  • Jean-Pierre Posier as L'assistant de Mattei
  • François Périer as Santi
Who's the director behind The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021)?
Jean-Pierre Melville directed The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021).
Who produced The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021)?
Robert Dorfmann produced The Red Circle (Le Cercle Rouge) (2021).