Nikita, La Femme (1990)
Starring: Anne Parillaud, Jean-Hughes Anglade, Tcheky Karyo, Jean Reno
Director: Luc Besson
Synopsis: Super slick, ultra stylish, French crime thriller
Reviewed by: Ali Khan

Luc Besson follows up his cracking thriller Leon, with the similar but equally impressive - Le Femme Nikita. Nikita is a down and out street junkie who is sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a policeman. Impressed with her killer instincts, Nikita is offered a reprieve if she enrols in a special undercover government operation. The operation seeks to make Nikita into the perfect assassin working undercover for the Government. 3 years later, Nikita is given her 'freedom' - a stylish, sophisticated and very deadly weapon.

Taking on a new identity, Nikita starts a new life, finding love for the first time. But the honeymoon is shattered when one day the phone rings and Nikita is 'activated'. A mission is underway and Nikita is torn between her two separate lives.

Everything about Le Femme Nikita is stylish, slick and intelligent. Besson has woven together a tight espionage thriller. The pace of the film never slackens, the tension is excellently maintained and yet there are splashes of humour and emotion. For a film of this genre, Nikita is surprisingly touching.

Much of the credit must go to the development of the three main characters in the film - Nikita, her fiancé and her boss. In particular, Nikita and the boss, known only as 'Bob' are complex having shades of ruthlessness and vulnerability and being both emotional and emotionless simultaneously.

There is an inherent tension within the characters that translates onto the screen. The film is further helped by the wonderfully underplayed performances of all three main characters. Look out also for Jean Reno's ultra cool special appearance. The camerawork is innovative and the film's score is suitably intense. Le Femme Nikita is top quality thriller - hip, sophisticated and very well made.