THE CONVERSATION Classic Film Retrospective

A psychologically brutal thriller that challenges every cerebral pulse point, this classic suspense film is on a level with Hitchcock and the great noir of the past. An engrossing film that some call perfect, THE CONVERSATION paints a chilling portrait of a chaotic and sinister universe. The story follows a surveillance expert who starts out as an emotionally distant technician hired to record a simple conversation. Soon he is led into an agonizing, moral quandry over intervening in what he hears. Gene Hackman gives a memorable performance as the man who becomes the victim of secret murder plots, fear and paranoia. Aesthetically, Coppola’s brilliant use of sound – particularly its juxtaposition and interaction with time and space – introduced techniques that influenced the next generation of filmmakers. Winner of the Palm D’Or at Cannes, the film was also nominated for Best Sound, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture at the Academy Awards.