Nikita (1990)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writer:

Luc Besson (writer)

Release Date:

April 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The Hit of Paris and London Has Come to America. [US Poster]

Plot:

Convicted felon Nikita, instead of going to jail, is given a new identity and trained, stylishly, as a top secret spy/assassin.

Plot Keywords:

Gun | Murder | Kill | Silencer | Violence

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Anne Parillaud	...	Nikita
Marc Duret	...	Rico
Patrick Fontana	...	Coyotte
Alain Lathière	...	Zap
Laura Chéron	...	La punk
Jacques Boudet	...	Le pharmacien
Helene Aligier	...	La pharmacienne
Pierre-Alain de Garrigues	...	Flic pharmacie
Patrick Pérez	...	Flic pharmacie (as Patrick Perez)
Bruno Randon	...	Flic pharmacie
Vincent Skimenti	...	Flic pharmacie
Roland Blanche	...	Flic interrogatoire
Joseph Teruel	...	Stagiaire flic
Jacques Disses	...	Avocat
Stéphane Fey	...	Président tribunal (as Stephane Fey)
Philippe Dehesdin	...	1er magistrat
Michel Brunot	...	2ème magistrat
Rodolph Freytt	...	1er infirmier
Pavel Slaby	...	2ème infirmier
Tchéky Karyo	...	Bob (as Tcheky Karyo)
Jean-Luc Caron	...	Professeur d'informatique
Rénos Mandis	...	Professeur de tir (as Renos Mandis)
Jean-Marc Merchet	...	Professeur de judo
Jeanne Moreau	...	Amande
Philippe Leroy	...	Grossman (as Philippe Leroy Beaulieu)
Patrick Serrière	...	Chauffeur Bob
Iska Khan	...	Homme restaurant
Heike Fisher	...	Femme restaurant
Patrick Buiquangda	...	1er garde du corps
Eddie Gaydu	...	2ème garde du corps
Jose Steinmann	...	3ème garde du corps
Philippe Hernando	...	4ème garde du corps
Gérard Touratier	...	Gardien porte blindée (as Gerard Touratier)
Jean Bedin	...	Armurier
Edith Perret	...	Dame agence
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Marco
Jean-Pierre Pauty	...	Homme bar hôtel
Michel Campa	...	Homme écoute
Murray Gronwall	...	Responsable hôtel (as Murray Grunwall)
Pierrick Charpentier	...	Flic hôtel
Rafael Sultan	...	Flic hôtel
Hubert Gillet	...	Flic hôtel
Fausto Costantino	...	Garde du corps
Roberto Talanno	...	Serveur hôtel Venise
Pétronille Moss	...	Serveuse salon de thé (as Petronille Moss)
Eric Prat	...	Agent immobilier
Mia Frye	...	Femme pressée
Olivier Hémon	...	Homme en retard (as Olivier Hemon)
Philippe du Janerand	...	Ambassadeur - Jules
Christian Gazio	...	Garde ambassadeur
Jérôme Chalou	...	Chauffeur ambassadeur (as Jerome Chalou)
Jean Reno	...	Victor nettoyeur
Jean-Claude Bolle-Reddat	...	Gardien ambassade (as Jean-Claude Bolle Reddat)
Jean Bouise	...	L'attaché ambassade
Patrick Chauveau	...	Gardien ambassade
Maurice Antoni	...	Gardien ambassade
Mathieu Archer	...	Flic Bob
Alexis Dupuy	...	Flic Bob
Michèle Amiel	...	Femme police (as Michele Amiel)
Guy Van Riet	...	Flic paternel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Xavier Bonastre	...	Homme restaurant (uncredited)

Directed by
Luc Besson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Luc Besson		writer

Produced by
Claude Besson	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Luc Besson	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Mario Cecchi Gori	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Vittorio Cecchi Gori	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Patrice Ledoux	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Eric Serra

Cinematography by
Thierry Arbogast		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Olivier Mauffroy

Casting by
Nathalie Cheron		(as Nathalie Chéron)

Production Design by
Dan Weil

Set Decoration by
Julie Sfez

Costume Design by
Anne Angelini
Valentin Breton Des Loys
Mimi Lempicka

Makeup Department
Paul de Fisser	....	chief hair stylist
Claudine Grumelart	....	special makeup effects artist
Geneviève Peyralade	....	key makeup artist (as Genevieve Peyralade)

Production Management
Didier Carrel	....	assistant unit manager
Jérôme Chalou	....	production manager
Deden	....	unit manager trainee
Christine De Jekel	....	unit manager
Loïc Dugue	....	unit manager trainee (as Loïc Dugue)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guillaume De Bary	....	second assistant director
Anne Guillard	....	apprentice assistant director
Christine Perrin	....	apprentice assistant director
Coralie Roy	....	second assistant director
Christophe Vassort	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jean-Marc Alary	....	constructor
Andre Antona	....	constructor
Catherine Autefage	....	painter
Marie Brand	....	set designer
Xavier Buffin	....	painter
Jeremy Chapelet	....	constructor (as Jeremie Chapelet)
Thierry Chavenon	....	set trainee
Alain Darthou	....	construction manager (as Alain Henri Darthou)
Jean-Louis Darthou	....	second assistant set decorator
Marcel Daudin	....	buyer
Michel Dechaud	....	chief carpenter
Nicolas Denis	....	constructor
Pascal Fasola	....	painter
Pascale Fernández	....	first assistant set decorator (as Pascale Fernandez)
Jerome Fortier	....	constructor
Herve Gavillet	....	constructor
Christian Gazio	....	property master
Richard Guille	....	second assistant set decorator (as Richard Guillé)
Noël Guillot	....	painter
Michel Karyo	....	set trainee
Stéphane Le Lièvre	....	painter: decorations (as Stephane Lelievre)
Padou	....	constructor
Cyrille Perron	....	key painter
Christine Pruvot	....	set trainee
Nathalie Sarret	....	painter: decorations
Mona Soliman	....	second assistant set decorator
Jean-Marc Vidonne	....	carpenter
Carole Weiss	....	painter
Patrick Widdrington	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Jean-François Auger	....	foley engineer
Michel Barlier	....	sound
Pierre Befve	....	sound
Dominik Borde	....	sound engineer
Xavier Griette	....	boom operator
Patrice Grisolet	....	sound
Marie Guesnier	....	sound
Gérard Lamps	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gerard Lamps)
Alain Lévy	....	assistant foley artist (as Alain Levy)
Jacques Lévy	....	post-synchronization
Jérôme Lévy	....	foley artist (as Jerome Levy)
Isabelle Martin	....	assistant sound engineer
Eric Mauer	....	sound effects
Françoise Maulny	....	sound detection (as Françoise Levy)

Special Effects by
Jacques Martin	....	special effects

Stunts
Isabelle Adnot	....	stunts
Jean-Louis Airola	....	stunts
Franck Bedu	....	stunts
Gaetano Falzone	....	stunts
Yves Gabrielli	....	stunts
Sonia Le Henaff	....	stunts
Michel Norman	....	stunt consultant
Leslie Rain	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jacques Barbazange	....	grip
Patrick Camboulive	....	still photographer
Germain Desmoulins	....	second assistant camera
Christophe Dural	....	electrician
Bernard Estève	....	electrician (as Bernard Esteve)
Gilles Floquet	....	grip
François Gentit	....	additional camera operator
Vincent Jeannot	....	additional camera operator
Jeanne Lapoirie	....	first assistant camera
Jean-Pierre Mas	....	key grip
Jean-Claude Reux	....	chief electrician

Casting Department
Nathalie Serfaty	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marie Rodriguez	....	dresser
Tammera Tudor	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Fanchon Brûlé	....	assistant editor (as Fanchon Brulé)
Catherine Constant	....	assistant editor
Sophie Duvillier	....	apprentice editor
Nathalie Hureau	....	assistant editor
Annie Marciniak	....	assistant editor
Pascale Mons	....	apprentice editor
Yvan Lucas	....	color timer (uncredited)
Bob Wenokur	....	studio post-production representative (uncredited)

Other crew
Lise Bèraha	....	production assistant (as Lise Beraha)
Fred Bouchaour	....	location manager
Elisabeth Chochoy	....	script supervisor
Nicole Cobac	....	production administrator
Marie-Laure Compain	....	production secretary
Claude Fugain	....	voice coach
Jean-Michel Gageat	....	groupman
Jérôme Giroux	....	locksmith (as Jerome Giroux)
Marcel Khelifa	....	sales
Amy Lavietes	....	singing coach
Jules Lefevre	....	shooting coach
Laurent Lesdema	....	dance teacher
Pascal Luneau	....	acting coach (as Pascal Emmanuel Luneau)
Gabrielle Mairesse	....	press attache
Christophe Maratier	....	weapons
Jean-Charles Maratier	....	weapons
André Noël	....	dog trainer
Monique Pautas	....	production accountant
Laurent Rabillon	....	coach: judo
Alexis Tikovoi	....	acting coach

Thanks
Jean Bouise	....	dedicatee
Alain Gillot	....	thanks
Michèle Pétin	....	thanks (as Michele Halberstadt)

Production Companies

• Gaumont (presents)
• Les Films du Loup
• Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Distributors

• Gaumont (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Gaumont DVD (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Gaumont Blu-ray Disc (2009) (France) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1990) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1991) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Action Film (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (1997) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Obshchestvennoye Rossijskoye Televideniye (ORT) Video (Russia) (DVD)
• Obshchestvennoye Rossijskoye Televideniye (ORT) Video (Russia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment (Australia)
• Roadshow Home Video (Australia)

Other Companies

• La Poêle à film  catering
• Le Cri du Loup  music edition
• Marcel Lassance  jewels: Jeanne Moreau
• Transpalux  lighting
• Virgin France  soundtrack
• Yves Saint Laurent  costumes: Jeanne Moreau

Also Known As:

La Femme Nikita (USA)
Nikita (UK)

Runtime:

115 min | Portugal:118 min | Spain:112 min (DVD edition)

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

Italian | French

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Old Seita factory, Paris 12, Paris, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Luc Besson] [reno]

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening sequence, Zap is first shown carrying an axe in his right hand and dragging unconscious person with his left. In the next shot these have changed over.

Quotes:

[after Nikita obliterates her target with a large automatic pistol]
Professeur de tir: You've used one of these before?
Nikita: Not on paper.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Finding Interest (1994)

Soundtrack:

LA PETITE MUSIQUE DE NUIT

Exciting, romantic, and stylish!

I fell in love with this film from the moment I first saw a brief clip of it on an entertainment program. At first I was drawn to the action elements (being young and somewhat immature in my dramatic tastes), but I was blown away by the romance and character interplay. I loved the composition of the scenes, the noirish lighting, and the quirky humor. This movie, along with Pedro Almodovar's films, really opened my eyes to European films, particularly those with a signature style.

The performances are great across the board. Anne Parillaud plays all facets of Nikita well, from her rebellious, drug-hazed beginning, to her growing confidence, and her near breakdown as her mission falls apart. Tcheky Karyo made a huge impression, mostly through his body language and his eyes. He says more with an expression than most actors do with dialogue. Jeanne Moraeu is a treasure, a truly beautiful woman in appearance and spirit. Jean-Hughues Anglade has the harder part, the "normal" guy who Nikita falls for. He is adept at comedy, but is tender in the love scenes. He carries himself well in his face-off with Bob. Finally, the actor who really stands out in memory, Jean Reno. Reno oozes charisma and talent, even in bad films. He steals the film the moment he enters.

Luc Besson is a tremendous stylist. His films are beautiful, even when the story is a bit obtuse. He is adept at using light to portray and enhance emotion and his compositions are stunning. His main fault is that he lets style overtake story, but he gets away with it because the style is always interesting. He is a fine writer, although more care seems to go into the scripts he directs than those he has written for others.

Finally, one can't discuss the films of Besson without discussing the music of Eric Serra. Serra creates an atmosphere that is much a part of the setting as the lighting or set decoration. His compositions convey mood and emotion, adding another layer to the story. His signature bass and percussion gets your heart pumping during action sequences, while the melodies bring a softness to intimate moments. He demonstrates the proper way to use synthesizers, to transform the music, rather than make up for lack of an orchestra (or talent). Serra's soundtracks were the first that I bought for instrumental music, rather than for pop songs used in the film.

This is a film that appeals to many audiences. There is plenty of action and intrigue for thrillseekers, unique character studies, quirky humor, and above all, romance. It has spawned many imitations (Point of No Return, Black Cat, Nikita TV series) but has never been equaled. If you are a fan of film noir, action/espionage, character drama, or romance, you should see this film; then you should own this film. You'll want to watch it again and again.