Films like The American Friend.

The American Friend (1977) reads as Sombre, measured, measured thriller / drama, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The AmericanFriend —repeat guard1977
1. The American Friend — repeat guard1977

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Killing ofa ChineseBookie — repeat guard1976
2. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie — repeat guard1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Padatik (1973) poster
3. Padatik1973

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) poster
4. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Conversation (1974) poster
5. The Conversation1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Promised Land (1975) (1975) poster
6. The Promised Land1975

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Le Boucher (1970) poster
7. Le Boucher1970

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Opening Night (1977) poster
8. Opening Night1977

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Marriage of Maria Braun (1979) poster
9. The Marriage of Maria Braun1979

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Innocent (1976) poster
10. The Innocent1976

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Terrorizers (1986) poster
11. The Terrorizers1986

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Marriageof Maria Braun— repeat guard1979
12. The Marriage of Maria Braun — repeat guard1979

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are The American Friend’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →