Les félins
(The Love Cage)
by René Clément
France / 1964 / 96’
Starring Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, Lola Albright

Original version with Italian subtitles. Free entry.

Les Félins (1964), directed by René Clément, is a French thriller starring Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, and Lola Albright. It delves into a tense and mysterious plot. The story revolves around a betrayed husband who hires hitmen to track down Marc, his wife’s lover, who is hiding on the French Riviera. Marc agrees to become the chauffeur for an affluent American woman named Barbara, but soon realizes that his job is far from random, and he is entangled in a sinister conspiracy.

This is the third collaboration between Alain Delon and director René Clément. The film centers on a man trapped by his own actions, caught in a situation he partly created, and ultimately becomes a more or less willing victim of his circumstances. The story, loosely adapted from an American novel, transforms into a metaphysical exploration of action and the human condition.

s a genre film, Les Félins stands out for its innovative mix of postmodern aesthetics, parody, eroticism, and absurdity. These elements combine to make it a unique work, fitting within the new wave of French noir cinema of the 1960s. Denitza Bantcheva describes it as an unusual piece of filmmaking, noting its place in the modernity of René Clément’s work, as it blends thriller conventions with deeper reflections on human nature and existential dilemmas.

Cinémardi #19

The cinematic series organized by the Institut Français Palermo returns to the Sala De Seta at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa in Palermo. Details: All films are shown in their original language with Italian subtitles. Free entry! This event is held in collaboration with Città di Palermo / Assessorato alla Cultura and IFcinéma. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enjoy great cinema in an authentic setting!