La Femme Nikita (1990) Nikita (original title)

Director:

Luc Besson

Writer:

Luc Besson

Release Date:

April 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | 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:

Murder | Kill | Gun | One Word Title | Venice Italy

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 12 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 Slabý	...	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

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
Christine De Jekel	....	unit manager
Deden	....	unit manager trainee
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
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
Michel Dechaud	....	key grip
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
Jacques Monge	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nathalie Serfaty	....	extras casting

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

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

Other crew
Fred Bouchaour	....	location manager
Lise Bèraha	....	production assistant (as Lise Beraha)
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
Michael Mendelsohn	....	banker/financier (uncredited)

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)
• Finnkino (1991) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1990) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (1991) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1991) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Action Film (1990) (Canada) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (1997) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• FS Film Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gaumont Blu-ray Disc (2009) (France) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Gaumont DVD (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Obshchestvennoye Rossijskoye Televideniye (ORT) Video (Russia) (DVD)
• Obshchestvennoye Rossijskoye Televideniye (ORT) Video (Russia) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (1990s) (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Home Video (1990s) (Australia) (VHS)

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:

"Nikita" - France (original title)

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Italy:T | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Australia:MA (2010) (re-rated)

Filming Locations:

Old Seita factory, Paris 12, Paris, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

The first scene Nikita appears in was the first scene Anne Parillaud shot. Despite having only one line Luc Besson had Parillaud deliver nearly a hundred takes. Parillaud later found out that he used the second take in the movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Nikita ambushes Bob with the metal chair, Bob anticipates the stunt by bracing himself, looking away, and closing his eyes before the chair hits him.

Quotes:

Marco:Stop before it's too late.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Knots (2004)

Soundtrack:

The Dark Side of Time

This film is cooler than a fortnight in Antartica wearing a bikini, drinking chilled vodka with ice-packs strapped to your body.

Forget the awful series. Forget the even worse Hollywood remake 'The Assassin'. Remember Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita.

This has got to be one of the most stylish, moody and gripping films in existence. Luc Besson's direction is refreshing whilst the cinematography is simply stunning, particuarly the scene in the hotel where Nikita gets her first assignment. The soundtrack by Eric Serra is simply genius and actually adds something to the film...soundtracks usually seem to be an afterthought but refreshingly; not in this case.

The beautiful Anne Parillaud is perfect in the lead role (unlike Bridget Fonda) and the subtle romance between her and Tcheky Karyo is pure eloquence. The hugely talented Jean-Hughes Anglade (of Betty Blue fame) shines in this film but of all the male roles, Jean Reno (also fabulous in Luc Besson's Leon)is outstanding as the completely unbalanced Victor The Cleaner. Jeanne Moreau as Amande makes a notable appearence following years of contributions in countless films.

Luc Besson established himself as one of the leading innovative directors with this film and you can easily see why. This movie certainly rates among the top 10 films of all time.

I could pontificate about this film all day and all night but the best thing is for you to watch it yourself as a matter of priority...it is a 'must see'.

I'm off now to pursue a career in international assassinations.