Once again the great Jean Gabin. Once again a tasty French film noir. Grisbi is pre New-Wave, and is as watchable today. It's a gangster movie, yes. But the plot does not matter.

In a film about robberies, chases, torture, murder, double crosses, hoods and femme fatales, the most powerful scene is about two men having a leisurely dinner in a suburban apartment. Truffaut in his book says, 'The real subjects of Grisbi are ageing and friendship.'

Whenever I watch this movie, I wonder whether the pressure of 14 shows a day, impatient multiplex audiences, weekend collections and such things will inhibit a filmmaker of today to even attempt such pace and mood.

Also read: A killer soundtrack for Johnny Gaddaar

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