Les Ferrailleurs (1971) | Claude Sautet - Max Et

He targets a group of petty, disorganized scrap-metal thieves (the ferrailleurs ) led by an old acquaintance, Abel (Bernard Fregier). Max goes undercover, encouraging them to rob a bank while simultaneously manipulating Abel's girlfriend, Lily (Romy Schneider), into falling for him to ensure the trap is perfectly set. Key Themes & Style

The film explores the "policeman’s paradox." Max is so obsessed with the law that he becomes a criminal mastermind to uphold it, blurring the line between the protector and the predator. Claude Sautet - Max et les ferrailleurs (1971)

While often overshadowed by the films of Jean-Pierre Melville, Max et les ferrailleurs is arguably more psychologically complex. It isn't just about a heist; it’s a character study of a man who destroys everything he touches because he cannot endure the "untidiness" of human nature. He targets a group of petty, disorganized scrap-metal

The chemistry between —Sautet’s frequent collaborators—is at its most strained and fascinating here, making the film's shocking, nihilistic ending one of the most memorable in French cinema. While often overshadowed by the films of Jean-Pierre