Movie, 1958

Hugely atmospheric thriller, in which a murder goes wrong and things spiral out of control for two couples as a result. The dreamy sequences, Miles Davis’ improvised soundtrack and some wonderful performances all give the film a detached, dreamy feeling. The escapades of the younger couple – a flower girl and juvenile delinquent – are set in opposition to the main action, set within the confines of Paris ,and in the case of one of the main characters, and for much of the movie, in the titular lift. The main story works much better than the runaways’ story, and is handled with much more care and an attention to detail and pace which give the film a dreamy, fatalistic feeling.