MIFF 2014: I Hired a Contract Killer

One of the guidelines I set for myself when choosing films to see was to have at least one film from one of the retrospectives in the program. The film I ended up seeing, I Hired a Contract Killer, was a part of the retrospective focusing on Jean-Pierre Léaud, a respected French actor who I have never heard of. I chose this film over the other ones being offered for a number of reasons. It was on at a good time, in a good cinema, and the premise looked brilliant. 

So, the basic plot is that lonely Frenchman Henri (Léaud) finds himself out of a job and with nothing to live for. After failing to kill himself numerous times, Henri finally decides to hire a hitman (Kenneth Colley) to actually do the job for him. However, before he can be killed, Henri meets Margaret (Margi Clarke) and the two fall in love. But the hitman is still after Henri, and he won't stop until the job is done. 

This is a strange little film, that could be considered either a dark comedy or a romantic comedy, with the film mixing dark subject matter and sweet romance throughout. The acting is odd, especially Margi Clarke as Margaret. The way she speaks some of her lines is quite weird, but it works for her character and makes her memorable. There is little dialogue, most of the information being conveyed through visuals and gestures.Which is how films should be! I'm not going to lie, I really like this film and how all the elements of plot, acting, comedy, and romance make it both un-Hollywood and unpretentious. And that was before I found out who the director was. 

The film is directed by Aki Olavi Kaurismäki, a Finnish director probably most famous for Leningrad Cowboys Go America, one of the best road-trip movies ever made, and one of my favourite films. I Hired a Contract Killer is very similar to Leningrad Cowboys (which is where the band comes from), in that the situations are a little outrageous, the acting is a little off, and the plot is a little convoluted, but all that mess creates a very fulfilling and funny film, that despite being dark has a sweet centre. I found myself liking all of the characters in this film, including the hitman who gets quite an interesting (if slightly cliched) backstory that makes him more sympathetic. But what stood out for me was the romance between Henri and Margaret. It was a different way of doing the whole 'love at first sight' thing that worked in the context of the film, and contrasted with the industrial and depressing setting.

If you are a fan of odd movies, interesting premises, or dark humour, then I would recommend this film. I put this film with the likes of Harold and Maude, or Keeping Mum, so if you like films like them then you'll probably like this. I'm just glad there are still some film-makers out there who managed to escape the Hollywood system to create interesting and different movies, that still manage to be both funny and romantic. It's a refreshing thing to watch after the crude comedies of Judd Apatow or the boringly offensive movies of Adam Sandler. So, I guess I'll be looking for more
Jean-Pierre Léaud and Aki Kaurismäki movies now. I hope some of you do the same. Until next time, readers.