PLEIN SOLEIL (1960)

René Clément

Plein Soleil Trailer

 

Director: René Clément
Cast: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt
Country: France
Year: 1960
Running time: 113 minutes
Territory: The Netherlands
Format: 4K DCP
Language: French
Subtitle options: Dutch, English

To mark the 65th anniversary of the film—and one year after the passing of Alain Delon—Plein Soleil returns in a stunning 4K restoration that reaffirms why this stylish thriller stands among the classics of French cinema. Directed by René Clément, this 1960 adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley introduced audiences to Delon in a career-defining role as the enigmatic Tom Ripley, a man whose charm and cunning mask a chilling amorality. Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of Italy—where shimmering blue waters and golden light conceal an undercurrent of deceit—the film weaves together psychological tension, elegant cinematography, and Nino Rota’s captivating score to create an atmosphere of both beauty and impending doom. Plein Soleil is a profound exploration of deception and desire, and remains a landmark of the European thriller, its stylized, simmering approach to suspense continuing to influence generations of filmmakers. More than sixty years later, the film’s hypnotic allure and moral ambiguity remain as potent as ever.