Carlos the Jackal (2010)

Recommended

France/Germany

Feature Film

Original Title: Carlos

Director: Olivier Assayas

Writers: Olivier Assayas, Dan Franck

Cinematographers: Denis Lenoir, Yorick Le Saux

Cast: Édgar Ramírez, Alexander Scheer, Nora von Waldstätten, Ahmad Kaabour, Christoph Bach, Susanne Wuest, Anna Thalbach, Julia Hummer, Alejandro Arroyo, Talal El-Jordi

Edited down from a three part mini-series, this biopic exploring the life of Carlos the Jackal, from his joining of the PFLP in 1973 to his eventual arrest in 1994, taking in a series of violent terrorist operations in between, though consummately crafted and featuring an excellent central performance from Ramírez, is perhaps a little too rushed in spots to be entirely satisfying. Iain.Stott