Adeus, Amigo

A clever script from the late SEBASTIAN JAPRISOT and smart performances from the two male leads - ALAIN DELON and CHARLES BRONSON (or should it be the other way around) result in an engaging and entertaining thriller.

Add to the above the competent direction from veteran JEAN HERMAN and a sparse but effective score by FRANCOIS DE ROUBAIX, it becomes easy why this film has an odd timeless quality.

This is a buddy buddy or bonding story with two loners, both disillusioned and world weary, returning, presumably from Algiers. Like the other colonial powers of this time (post WW II leading into the 60s), France had struggled to keep up appearances overseas. Losing Algiers was a bitter blow.

ADIEU L'AMI (the original title) chronicles the actions of our two (anti) heroes as they struggle to make a go of it, after their discharge.

One thing happens after another, and the viewer really has to pay attention, because JAPRISOT is lean and economical with his script: if it is there, then there must be a reason.

Suffice to say, these two men battle it out, physically and psychologically, one long weekend. Their motivation is quite different, their goals are different - their survival depends entirely on each other. That ALAIN DELON and CHARLES BRONSON are outwardly so different - the former, arguably a pretty boy, and the latter an ugly thug, adds to the chemistry.

That quest makes for a great story, which in turn, makes for a great film.

Lest I forget there are women in this film, and true to the Japrisot method, they too are memorable, though not nearly as fleshed out; to say much more would be to spoil one's delight in discovering their true nature.

FAREWELL, FRIEND HAS BEEN RELEASED IN THE UK; AN ANAMORPHIC IMAGE, 16.9 ENHANCED; IN English ONLY (not even subtitles for the hard of hearing); A RUNNING TIME OF 110 MINUTES; MONO SOUNDTRACK but the DE ROUBAIX music has lots of punch!

Highly recommended.

This will probably be my shortest comment ever; but I havent seen this film in years. However I have always liked it as a great vehicle for both Bronson and Delon. Its finely rcrafted, smooth and slick and still has a raw edge to it. When you think about intelligent action films this one is hard to forget.

Adieu L'ami/Farewell,Friend is a near perfect film in which a viewer is assured that there is all possibility of entertainment guaranteed.This is because apart from strong men in the form of maverick actors namely Alain Delon and Charles Bronson,there are also good performances by beautiful women such as Brigitte Fossey and Olga Georges Picot.It is true that "Adieu L'ami" respects all the conventions of heist film genre but it cannot be classified as an ordinary heist film as it is only until the end that the viewers have to guess about the actual perpetrators of a financial crime.This effect has been created by treating everybody as a suspect.As a different type of heist film, the theme of men being overshadowed by women develops slowly.This gives viewers ample time to develop their loyalties.Before directing this film, Jean Herman had already made around 15 short films.As far as screenwriter is concerned, this is Sébastien Japrisot's second film.He is best remembered for having written "L'été Meurtrier" for Jean Becker (Jacques Becker's son) which starred Isabelle Adjani and Alain Souchon.

Bronson shines in this great film. This is clearly one his his best pics yet. The movie is great. The story, the acting... Everything. The chemstry between Bronson and co-star Alain Delon works well.

One quesion though... why is Bronson billed so low? Look at how the cast is listed on imdb page... Bronson WAS the star of this, along side Alain Delon.

I've heard that new DVD versions of this film are terrible in quality. I have an OLD vhs of this that is pretty good. The quality isn't great, but it is surely watchable. I guess I'm lucky.

Anyway- go see this movie now!

It is my personal opinion that "adieu l´ami" is one of the most underestimated movies of alain delon. Its psychological structure is of a highly complex density and needs to be analysed more. Especially the ambivalent role of women, sex and violence makes plenty of different interpretations possible. I propose to view "adieu l´ami" as an early outlook to the risky and multi-individualistic lifestyle and social attitude of the late ninetees. Comparing now the plot of "adieu l´ami" to the reality of western societies it must be seen as a masterpiece of impressing directive power.