The Samourai (1967) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Samourai (1967), directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, concludes with the death of its protagonist, Jef Costello (Alain Delon), a hitman who becomes entangled in a web of betrayal. After being double-crossed by his employer and hunted by the police, Jef executes his final job with precision but is ultimately shot by a police sniper. The ending is ambiguous, leaving questions about whether Jef orchestrated his own death or was simply outmaneuvered. The film's climax reinforces its themes of existentialism, isolation, and the code of honor, cementing Jef as a tragic, solitary figure in a world devoid of loyalty.
The Final Scene: A Calculated Death or Fate?
The ending of The Samourai is a masterclass in minimalism and ambiguity. Jef, having survived multiple betrayals, walks into a final meeting at an airport hangar. He knows the police are waiting, yet he proceeds with eerie calm. As he steps forward, a sniper's bullet kills him instantly. The film doesn't clarify whether Jef anticipated this outcome or if he was resigned to his fate. His death mirrors his life-controlled, silent, and devoid of emotional outbursts. The lack of dramatic final words or a struggle suggests Jef accepted his end, adhering to the samurai-like code he lived by. This aligns with Melville's fascination with fatalism and the inevitability of death for those who live outside society's laws.
Betrayal and the Illusion of Control
Throughout the film, Jef operates under the illusion that he is in complete control. He follows a meticulous routine, from preparing alibis to maintaining emotional detachment. However, the ending shatters this illusion. The police, his employer, and even his lover (Nathalie Delon) betray him. The final betrayal comes from the sniper, whose presence Jef might have suspected but chose not to evade. This raises the question: Did Jef knowingly walk into his death as a final act of defiance, or was he outplayed? The film leans toward the former, suggesting Jef's death is a deliberate choice, a way to reclaim agency in a world that has stripped him of it.
Themes of Isolation and Existentialism
Jef's death underscores the film's existential themes. Like a modern-day ronin (a masterless samurai), he exists in a world without loyalty or meaning. His death isn't heroic; it's bleak and abrupt, reflecting Melville's view of life as inherently meaningless. The sparse dialogue and muted colors amplify this isolation. Even in death, Jef is alone-no mourners, no legacy, just a corpse on a cold airport floor. The film suggests that for men like Jef, death is the only escape from a life of perpetual solitude. This aligns with French New Wave existentialism, where characters often face absurd, futile ends.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
- Did Jef know he would be killed?
- Yes: His calm demeanor suggests acceptance.
- No: He might have believed he could outsmart the police one last time.
- Why didn't Jef kill the police inspector earlier?
- Honor: He respected the inspector as a worthy adversary.
- Practicality: Killing him would escalate the manhunt.
- What was the significance of the caged bird?
- Symbolism: Represents Jef's trapped existence.
- Foreshadowing: Hints at his inevitable capture/death.
Personal Opinion: A Perfectly Executed Tragedy
The Samourai's ending is hauntingly beautiful in its simplicity. Alain Delon's performance-stoic yet vulnerable-elevates Jef's death from a mere plot conclusion to a poignant commentary on fate. Melville's direction ensures the audience feels the weight of Jef's choices without sentimentalizing them. While some might crave a more dramatic climax, the abruptness of Jef's death feels true to the film's ethos. It's a reminder that in Melville's world, style and silence speak louder than action. The ending solidifies The Samourai as a timeless meditation on honor, inevitability, and the price of living by one's own rules.