After fifteen years' service, Henri Boulanger is made redundant from his job. Shocked, he attempts suicide, but can't go through with it, so he hires a contract killer in a seedy bar to ...
See full summary »
From a sardonic doctor and a teen werewolf to some very different detectives, we've got four iconic TV shows for you to stream now on Prime Video.
Related News
-
Movie Poster of the Week: Jean-Pierre Léaud in Posters
31 March 2017 | MUBI -
Criterion Collection: La Vie De Boheme | Blu-ray Review
28 January 2014 | IONCINEMA.com -
Watch Aki Kaurismäki's Le Havre online
29 March 2012 | The Guardian - Film News
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: I Hired a Contract Killer (1990)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
1 win & 3 nominations.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jean-Pierre Léaud | ... | Henri Boulanger | |
| Margi Clarke | ... | Margaret | |
| Kenneth Colley | ... | The Killer | |
 |
T.R. Bowen | ... | Department Head (as Trevor Bowen) |
|
|
Imogen Claire | ... | Secretary (as Immogen Clare) (as Imogen Clare) |
|
|
Angela Walsh | ... | Landlady |
|
|
Cyril Epstein | ... | Cab Driver |
| Nicky Tesco | ... | Pete | |
| Charles Cork | ... | Al | |
|
|
Michael O'Hagan | ... | Killer's Boss |
|
|
Tex Axile | ... | Bartender |
| Walter Sparrow | ... | Receptionist | |
| Tony Rohr | ... | Frank | |
| Joe Strummer | ... | Guitarist | |
| Peter Graves | ... | Jeweller | |
Learn more
More Like This
La Vie de Bohème
(1992)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Matti Pellonpää,
Evelyne Didi,
André Wilms
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Kati Outinen,
Matti Pellonpää,
Kirsi Tykkyläinen
The Match Factory Girl
(1990)
Drama
|
Comedy
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Kati Outinen,
Elina Salo,
Esko Nikkari
Ariel
(1988)
Comedy
|
Crime
|
Romance
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Turo Pajala,
Susanna Haavisto,
Matti Pellonpää
Drifting Clouds
(1996)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Kati Outinen,
Kari Väänänen,
Elina Salo
Leningrad Cowboys Go America
(1989)
Comedy
|
Music
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Matti Pellonpää,
Kari Väänänen,
Sakke Järvenpää
Lights in the Dusk
(2006)
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Janne Hyytiäinen,
Maria Järvenhelmi,
Maria Heiskanen
Shadows in Paradise
(1986)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Matti Pellonpää,
Kati Outinen,
Sakari Kuosmanen
Hamlet Goes Business
(1987)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Pirkka-Pekka Petelius,
Esko Salminen,
Kati Outinen
Crime and Punishment
(1983)
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Markku Toikka,
Aino Seppo,
Esko Nikkari
The Man Without a Past
(2002)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Markku Peltola,
Kati Outinen,
Annikki Tähti
Calamari Union
(1985)
Comedy
Director:
Aki Kaurismäki
Stars:
Timo Eränkö,
Kari Heiskanen,
Asmo Hurula
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (50) »
Storyline
After fifteen years' service, Henri Boulanger is made redundant from his job. Shocked, he attempts suicide, but can't go through with it, so he hires a contract killer in a seedy bar to murder him at some unspecified time in the future. But almost immediately he meets and falls in love with Margaret, a flower-seller, which makes Henri realise that his life has some meaning after all. But when he goes back to the bar to cancel the contract, he finds it has been demolished - and there's no way he can get in touch with the killer... Written by Michael Brooke <michael@everyman.demon.co.uk>
Plot Keywords:
loneliness | loner | contract to have oneself murdered | telephone book | 1980s |Taglines:
Lej aldrig yrkesmördare i rivningskåkar! [Never hire a professional killer in a condemned building!]Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
Henri Boulanger: No no, not anymore.
Margaret: Because you met me?
Henri Boulanger: Yes, that's made me change my mind.
Margaret: Only because of my blue eyes?
Henri Boulanger: Are they blue?
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
In the card playing scene, the lyrics of the Finnish song sum up what has happened up till that point. See more »Quotes
Margaret: [Henri has just spend a night with Margaret] What about now? You still want to die?Henri Boulanger: No no, not anymore.
Margaret: Because you met me?
Henri Boulanger: Yes, that's made me change my mind.
Margaret: Only because of my blue eyes?
Henri Boulanger: Are they blue?
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 October 1990 (Finland) See more »Also Known As:
I Hired a Contract Killer See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1Contribute to This Page
On IMDb TV, you can catch Hollywood hits and popular TV series at no cost. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free!
Do you like classics? Do you have a thing for Hitchcock, or lets say, Jean Pierre Melville? Do you wanna see how does that translate into a more modern progressive movie? Well! here is what you do: You go straight to a club and you purchase 'I Hired a Contract Killer'! It sticks with you; the futility, the humor, and the suspense. This is a picture that no matter what, you gonna remember for ever. The futility is so rich, that itself becomes the core meaning to everything. And the situation gets so baffled that emptiness becomes a survival. The suspension is perfectly 'Hitchcokic'& the use of music is great. It is among the pictures that secures you; makes you sure that still cinema exists; A cinema that tells you a story, a breathtaking one - and damn, Kourismaki is a great story teller; a noble one. One of the few left from the true heritage of motion picture industry and art. Lay back, watch and enjoy. This is pure cinema. As you might have guessed, I fully recommend it!