Leon-Luc Besson

‘Leon’ is a film released on 3rd February 1995. It was written and also directed by Luc Besson. The film is set in the Little Italy suburb of New York.

Leon is a thriller based crime film. The film is based on the emotional relation ship between Leon (Jean Reno) and Mathilda (Natalie Portman). Leon is brought to the attention of Mathilda when she comes knocking on his door hysterically crying after her family have been caught up in a dealing with drugs and shot by a DEA officer. Leon has it forced upon him to help Mathilda out. She is a young girl of 12 who wants to know the trick of the trade of being hit man. She is inspired to learn Leon’s ways in an attempt of getting revenge on the DEA officer who killed her family, especially who little brother. Whom she had an extremely close relationship with. Leon is very reluctant to introduce Mathilda into his job. The two start to bond, a strong father/daughter relationship soon develops. I think this happens because Mathilda finds Leon more of a father figure than she ever did with her own father. The relationship builds between the characters throughout the film, and becomes stronger and stronger. Leon tries to protect Mathilda and be responsible for her. However the more the relationship builds up, the more Mathilda ‘falls’ for Leon which does become cringey at certain parts within the film.

There are many significant items through out the film, on of which is a plant. The plant is like a friend to Leon. Something he looks after, cares for and makes sure its watered everyday. He has a ‘special’ bond with it. The plant is almost like a real friend, or child to him. The plant is taken everywhere by Leon and is never really out of sight. It is almost as if the plant gives him strength, and to live. Another significant prop in the film is the guns used. The film is based around guns, drugs, and money. The guns are not any guns, they are big mean and powerful. As the film gets towards the end, the guns become more powerful and even lead up to the used of a grenade. A glass of milk is also a reoccurring item too. I think the milk is meant to represent the fact of growing strong and healthy. This may suggest that hit men are also strong and healthy, and this may be why Leon is so faithful in drinking at least a glass a day.

In conclusion I thought the film was absolutely fantastic. Leon would never be a film I would choose personally to watch, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The minute the story line began to unroll I was engrossed. The editing, the props, the lighting, it was all perfect. Camera angles made the important parts stand out to the audience. In my opinion the best bit was the ending, I liked this because there is no music to the death of Leon it just cuts silence to a point of view shot and you can tell exactly what has just happened to him.