Greatly admired by Melville, Sautet crafted a psychologically nuanced twist to the Melvillian heist film with this previously underrated investigation into the contradictions of crimefighting. Michel Piccoli plays the unlikely title character: a former judge and independently wealthy cop, obsessed with capturing criminals in the act so they can be prosecuted without acquittal. His singleminded mission leads him to Abel, an old army pal, part of a crew of outlaw foot soldiers who steal scrap metal and disassemble stolen cars. Compared with Max’s cold calculations, the motley gang appears relatively benign, living their delinquent, almost peasant kind of lifestyle in the gritty outskirts of Paris. When Max discovers that Abel’s girlfriend happens to be the scintillating, spunky prostitute Lily—played by Romy Schneider in her second collaboration with Sautet and Piccoli—he pretends to be a rich banker and is soon a regular customer. Max tosses money around like candy while casually feeding Lily tantalizing information about the inner workings of his place of employment. Meanwhile, their platonic, paid relationship blossoms despite itself. Her impact on his inscrutable heart is revealed in a shocking turn of events that further complicates the disturbingly delicate line dividing criminals and their pursuers. – Brittany Gravely