The Crime of Monsieur Lange

Directed by Jean Renoir, this French drama premiered in France in January 1936. It follows Amédée Lange, a gentle employee of a small Paris publishing house whose unscrupulous boss, Batala, suddenly vanishes, leaving the business in chaos. The workers take over the firm and run it as a cooperative, which flourishes thanks to the unexpected success of Lange's western tales about 'Arizona Jim'. When Batala returns and tries to seize control again, the crisis pushes Lange toward the crime of the title, leaving the audience to weigh whether his act was justified. Written with Jacques Prévert from a story by Jean Castanier, the film reflects the ideals of the Popular Front era, blending romance and social commentary into an affectionate portrait of collective working life. It has come to be regarded as one of the rare libertarian-minded features of French cinema.