Luc Besson
Subway

THE REVIEW

The thief Fred steals documents from the home of the beautiful Helena. On the run, he takes refuge in the Paris metro trying to hide, and begins to meet strange characters who will lend him a hand.

The first part of Besson's career is quite commendable, and "Subway," his second feature film, is no exception. It's a strange film; it's not funny enough to be a comedy, there's no tension for it to be a thriller, there's some action but not too much, it's not a detective film, nor a drama. Perhaps its strength lies in being a genre not well-defined and heavily relying on the characterization of the setting and the protagonists. It almost feels like a fantasy film without being one. The bizarreness of the characters "trapped" in this metro emerges, which seems almost like a world apart where some pickpocket people on scooters, others work out with weights as if in a gym, some play in a band, some sell flowers, and others hunt down criminals. The two main characters are Fred and Helena, who live out this pseudo-love story, which is the driving force of the film from the first to the last minute, even though it can't be said there's much sentimentality.

One cannot overlook the acting performance of a peroxide-blonde Christopher Lambert, perhaps his best, considering the good promises of a career later squandered in B-movies and questionable films. The rest of the cast fares well with the beautiful Isabelle Adjani, the young Jean-Hugues Anglade, and Jean Reno. Special mention goes to the soundtrack, very '80s, but not the annoying kind.

"Subway" is a fascinating, almost surreal film, not a masterpiece but a small cult classic, which has the merit of launching Luc Besson's career, who will produce important films in the early years such as "The Big Blue," "Nikita," and especially "Léon." Then, in my opinion, he lost his way somewhat.

P.S. The poster is misleading, with Lambert flaunting a fluorescent tube in hand as if it were a "Star Wars" lightsaber. It's just a reference; don't expect "Star Wars" style fights.