His name was... Stavisky. Belmondo is a great actor. You can't argue with that. Belmondo is a multifaceted actor. You can't argue again. Such familiar and successful his roles as heroes of lovers, detectives and policemen, superheroes, comedy roles did not stop the great Frenchman for his own experiments and in 1974 he plays the main role in the intricate biographical drama Stavisky. And as in his previous and subsequent films, he plays his role brilliantly, showing the image of a once successful swindler, a Russian Jew who settled in the homeland of De Gaulle and Dumas and puts on the ears of the entire political system of the then French government.
The work of Belmondo in Staviscom is excellent. And despite the fact that in Jean-Paul’s gait, in his gestures and facial expressions, his numerous past characters are guessed, Stavisky’s character is played really cool and unique in its own way. But without Belmondo there is someone to see the domestic viewer. This is the charming Annie Dupre ("Daddy), Pierre Vernier ("Left of the elevator), Belmondo's eternal partner in many detectives Michel Bon ("Professional"), Gigi Ballista ("The Incredible Adventures of Italians in Russia"), and of course ... unforgettable, still thin, sophisticated, young, and still unburdenied by the French episode The composition was picked up, and under the conductorship of the magnificent Jean-Paul, this orchestra is a good, talented team.
This semi-biographical picture shows us briefly the last months of the life of the famous fraudster of the 30s of the last century Alexander Stavisky. Russian and film directors did not fail at every step to insert advertising signs and dialogues with Russian words and about Russia into the frame, which is especially pleasant. Something “Stavisky” Belmondo is similar to “Vysotsky” Bezrukov. Also significant people of their period, as well as career problems and the dying months of their lives, where their business, their families and environment are vividly shown. But in "Staviscom" everything is not so clear and simple. According to the intricacies and intricacies of the plot, the creators surpassed modern Russian filmmakers on their heads. This is one of the drawbacks of the film, because it is possible to understand what happens only by the middle of the film, where the actual explanation of what is what begins. Stavisky’s numerous male environment looks very similar, which once again confuses the already unchildish plot. Fortunately, somehow understanding the main events to the end of the film and linking the previously misunderstood, you look at the outcome with undisguised interest. And it doesn't disappoint.
The Stavi character is complex. This person lives in the present, but does not forget to look the next day, “investing” in the future. A fraudster who made his fortune on fake bonds, currency transactions, bribery of officials. Smart, cunning, charming, a favorite of women, which does not fail to use in any convenient case (of course with a selfish purpose). He adores his charming wife, sparing nothing for her, not even freedom. The relationship between the two spouses is very interesting. They flirt openly in front of each other, but still love each other. However, as long as the rope does not twirl... and already Sasha Stavisky with all his illegal activities clamped in the corner. The main mistake that ruined him is identical to Kotov’s mistake in Mikhalkov’s Weary of the Sun. To the very end, believing in his power, he longed for the hope of inevitable salvation. But no matter how the successes of his benefactors were paid for, at the most important moment for Alexander, he was left alone. He could not survive his collapse... The wrong flight was a Russian bird.
The film did not become fateful and famous for Belmondo and the creators. However, it is an interesting, intriguing, difficult drama that tells about dishonest deeds and the broad soul of a considerable swindler of all France, who put the whole republic and its power on the ears, sponsored almost all the power structures of France and until the last moment did not believe in his defeat, the avoidance of which was paid for by “investments”. Alexander is a long time ago.
P.S. In the film there is a well-known Leo Davidovich Trotsky, but his connection with Stavisky is very conditional. So why did he appear in this movie?!
7 out of 10