The Assassination

Year: 1972

Runtime: 123 mins

Language: French

Director: Yves Boisset

ThrillerHistory

Darien, a left‑wing police informant, is ordered to lure his old friend Sadiel to Paris to film a television special on the Third World. Sadiel, the exiled leader of a North African state, is being pursued by ruthless Colonel Kassar. When Sadiel arrives, Darien discovers he has been used and tries to reverse the situation, unaware of forces at play.

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Timeline & Setting – The Assassination (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Assassination (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:11

Main Characters – The Assassination (1972)

Meet the key characters of The Assassination (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Michael Howard (Roy Scheider)

An American TV correspondent who is revealed to be a CIA asset operating within a web of covert influence. He manipulates events to serve the operation and ultimately kills François Darien, escaping before French authorities can intervene. His loyalty shifts with political expediency, illustrating how journalism, diplomacy, and espionage intersect. The character embodies the blurred boundary between information and power.

🕵️ Spy 🎯 Manipulative 🛡️ CIA asset

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:11

Major Themes – The Assassination (1972)

Explore the central themes of The Assassination (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:11

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Paranoid political thrillers like The Assassination

Stories where conspiracy and surveillance erode trust and reality itself.If you liked the web of espionage and deception in The Assassination, explore more movies like it. This collection features tense, complex thrillers about political conspiracy, moral compromise, and the crushing weight of surveillance states, perfect for fans of cynical, high-stakes narratives.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives typically center on an individual, often an informant or journalist, who becomes ensnared in a vast conspiracy beyond their control. The plot unfolds through a series of betrayals and revelations, methodically stripping away the protagonist's sense of security and agency, often leading to a fatalistic conclusion where the powerful system prevails.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared atmosphere of pervasive distrust and their focus on the psychological toll of navigating a corrupt political landscape. They share a tense tone, complex plotting, and a bleak outlook on power and information.

Movies about bleak betrayal like The Assassination

Journeys where personal loyalties are weaponized, leading to devastating consequences.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight of betrayal in The Assassination, this list curates similar films exploring moral collapse and the devastating impact of treachery. Discover stories where friendship is exploited, leading to tense, psychologically taxing narratives with bleak outcomes.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character being manipulated into betraying someone close to them, only to realize too late that they are a disposable asset. The story arc is one of escalating disillusionment and powerlessness, culminating in a conclusion that offers no redemption, only the bleak finality of the protagonist's defeat or destruction.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their exploration of betrayal as a central theme, their heavy emotional weight, and their consistently bleak endings. They prioritize psychological realism and the tragic fallout of moral compromise over action or hope.

Unlock the Full Story of The Assassination

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Assassination in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Assassination is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Assassination Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Assassination, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Assassination Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Assassination with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Assassination Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Assassination that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About The Assassination

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Assassination: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to The Assassination

Discover movies like The Assassination that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.