How Luc Besson turned a feral criminal into a global action cinema icon
In short: In 1990, Luc Besson transformed his partner, Anne Parillaud, into a lethal government assassin for the thriller La Femme Nikita. By casting against her shy, intellectual nature, Besson created a surprise hit that redefined the action genre, sparked multiple international remakes, and launched a legacy of rogue female operatives.
The film follows a vicious, drug-addicted criminal who, after murdering a police officer during a pharmacy robbery, is sentenced to life in prison. Instead of rotting away, she is recruited by a shadowy government agency known as the Centre. Faking her death, they force her to choose between execution or becoming a professional assassin. Under the tutelage of trainers like Amande, she evolves from a degenerate into a sophisticated femme fatale, eventually balancing her clandestine missions with a secret life in Paris.
Besson famously wrote the script specifically for Parillaud, but he intentionally cast her against type to avoid the perception that she was merely playing herself. To maintain the film's creative intensity, the couple lived apart during production, switching hotel stays every two weeks to avoid the domestic friction of daily life. This rigorous approach paid off; the film became a massive success, eventually reaching millions of spectators in France and spawning remakes in Hong Kong, Bollywood, and Hollywood, including the 1993 film Point of No Return.
Despite its commercial triumph, the film’s critical reception was sharply divided. While some reviewers praised its stylish, noir-inspired aesthetic and Parillaud’s demanding performance, others dismissed it as superficial, comparing its psychological depth to a comic strip. Besson remained largely indifferent to these critiques, arguing that critics often prioritized ideology over the raw, sincere experience of the audience. Regardless of the mixed press, the film’s influence remains undeniable, having inspired decades of television series and action films, cementing its status as a foundational text in modern thriller cinema.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: La Femme Nikita (film)
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