(internationally released as ...And Hope to Die ) is a 1972 crime thriller directed by René Clément and written by the celebrated novelist and screenwriter Sébastien Japrisot . The film is a unique blend of gritty noir, surrealism, and a "caper" plot, loosely inspired by the 1954 David Goodis novel Black Friday . Plot and Atmosphere
The story follows Tony (Jean-Louis Trintignant), a French pilot on the run in Montreal after accidentally killing gypsy children in a plane crash. While fleeing vengeful gypsies, he witnesses a gangland execution and is kidnapped by a group of criminals led by Charley (Robert Ryan). Instead of killing him, the gang eventually incorporates Tony into their plan for a high-stakes kidnapping and heist. The film is noted for its: La Course Du LiГЁvre A Travers
: Reviewers from IMDb and avoir-alire.com describe it as a "bleak" and "dreamlike" story where characters are driven by childhood nostalgia and a sense of impending doom. (internationally released as
: Japrisot’s screenplay includes numerous references to Alice in Wonderland and Lewis Carroll , treating the criminal world as a serious but surreal game. While fleeing vengeful gypsies, he witnesses a gangland
: The haunting soundtrack by Francis Lai is highly regarded for enhancing the film's "sour melancholy". And Hope to Die (1972) - IMDb