Crime Thief (1969)

In the depths of his ordinary life as a writer and family man, Jean Girod finds himself ensnared in an intricate web of intrigue and madness. Witnessing a young woman's suicide ignites an unsettling spark within him, causing him to retreat from his familial reality into a world of delusion. Here, Jean rents a room from his abstract artist friend, Tian, using this sanctuary as a base for his emerging psychopathy. Swept up in his own twisted mind-game, Jean begins to convince himself that he was the perpetrator of the woman's death. He stokes the flames of his self-manufactured guilt by penning anonymous letters to local media outlets, claiming intimate knowledge of the 'murder'. This dangerous dance with the police teeters on the edge of truth and deception, as Jean seems undecided whether he is seeking the thrill of the chase or the catharsis of capture. When Jean crosses paths with Florinda, a friend of Tian's, their mutual attraction adds a new layer of complexity to his spiralling mental state. As Jean grapples with his imagined guilt, his encounter with Florinda threatens to tip the scales of his sanity. The prospect of a real crime begins to fracture Jean's already disturbed mind, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats, wondering what his ultimate fate will be in this atmospheric tale of self-deception and psychological suspense.

Crime Thief is a crime movie featuring Jean-Louis Trintignant and directed by Nadine Trintignant.

Crime Thief is currently streaming on TCM.