Subway (1985)

Plot Summary: A stylish safecracker flees pursuers into the labyrinthine tunnels of the Paris Metro, where he falls in love with a wealthy woman and connects with a bizarre subculture of eccentric underground inhabitants.

Director: Luc Besson
Producers: Luc Besson, François Ruggieri
Screenplay: Luc Besson, Pierre Jolivet, Alain Le Henry, Marc Perrier, Sophie Schmit

Starring:
Christopher Lambert as Fred
Isabelle Adjani as Héléna
Richard Bohringer as The Florist
Michel Galabru as Inspector Gesberg
Jean Reno as The Drummer
Jean-Hugues Anglade as The Roller
Éric Serra as Enrico

Music: Éric Serra
Cinematography: Carlo Varini
Editing: Sophie Schmit

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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️

Luc, Jean Reno and ERIC SERRA

Today, I was watching Luc Besson's second film, "Subway." The movie opens with a mildly thrilling car chase scene featuring our main character, Fred (1 point for the name alone). As soon as the music by Éric Serra kicks in, you might brace yourself for some quirky 80's bass-driven tunes with some sax in the mix. But surprisingly, it works sometimes! Éric Serra isn't just the composer; he's also a character in the movie, playing the bass guy! Seeing a real band play the music within the scenes makes that electronic-ish sound blend in better. Plus, we discover that Jean Reno can play the drums! His character is very cool and, much like in "Le Dernier Combat," doesn’t say much, except for "let's grab some coffee." This stylish movie, with its punk ethos, has a lot of charm, much like Christopher Lambert’s face, which, as the lieutenant says, "Il a une bonne tête," and of course, the beautiful Isabelle Adjani.

Surreal Storytelling in a Labyrinthine Punk Dream

The story of "Subway" is a bit silly, primarily due to its surrealist elements. The Paris Metro is inexplicably filled with police, including riot police, yet they can't seem to find the various quirky characters living in the tunnels and their strange dwellings. Especially the roller-skating guy, who pulls off a cool jump over the metro line while being chased, adding to the movie’s offbeat charm. The dialogue is hilarious and had me laughing multiple times. The ending, though, is quite absurd with an unnecessary murder that goes unnoticed, except by the sound mixing guys who were there for the orchestral band, it seems. The whole scene plays out to a cringy song with lyrics that go, "people kill people." It's surreal, but also funny in its absurdity.

Le Cinema du Look

"Subway" won three César awards. This film is a must-watch for any cinephile who hasn't seen it yet. Just a heads up about Éric Serra’s music: while I haven't liked his compositions so far, I must say that he is a brilliant bass player. I suspect we'll hear more of his soundtracks in the next films, and I might even start enjoying those cheesy electronic-ish sounds. I'm excited for the next movie and to delve deeper into this so-called Cinema du Look. For now, "Subway" stands as a stylish, charming, and surreal film that blends action, comedy, and drama in a way only Luc Besson can.

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