Jean-Pierre Melville Series

The Silence of The Sea (1949) is one of Melville’s first feature films. It is based on a novel about a French man and his niece who must harbor a German lieutenant during Germany’s occupation of France in the Second World War. The film is more dialogue driven and less outwardly stylish as Melville’s 1967 film noir Le Samouraï. Le Samouraï, which focuses on a stoic Italian hitman, is arguably Melville’s most influential film. The cult classic has proven to be a favorite among other directors; 2011 film Drive borrows heavily from Melville’s visual style, and both Martin Scorsese and Jim Jarmusch have both praised the film. The Silence of The Sea plays at 5 p.m. today and at 8:35 p.m. tomorrow. Le Samouraï plays at 8:50 p.m. today and at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets are $10, $7 for students and members. (Cook)