A Love Story

One of my favourite films is Léon.

Leon is a professional assassin. He is very good at what he does and is always successful, otherwise there wouldn't a movie. He has two passions - his potted plant which he waters assiduously and watching matinee films, his favourites being musicals. Other than that he's a bit of a loner really. He lives in a block of flats (apartment complex) and keeps himself to himself. Because of his job he's very nervous and can't trust anyone. At night Leon finds he can't sleep because he's got too much on his mind.

Mathilda is a 12 year old girl living in the same block of flats just a few doors away from Leon. She lives in an environment where there is constant bickering in his family. His dad is also a drug dealer. On that fateful day, Mathilda is sent to the shops to buy some grocery. When she returns she discovers her parents have been murdered. As the men responsible are still in the house, Mathilda pretends she doesn't live there but lives with Leon. She knocks on his door hoping he would let her in. It's the longest wait of Mathilda's life because Leon is debating whether he should get involved or not. Eventually, Leon lets her in.

Mathilda insists that she will look after Leon's house and in return she wants him to teach her his trade, which Leon reluctantly agrees to. Mathilda has also discovered that a police officer called Stansfield is responsible for killing her family. When she feels she has learned enough from Leon, she tries to assassinate Stansfield but she fails and is captured. Leon goes to rescue her, taking out several officers in the way. This pisses off Stansfield and he gets the entire police precinct to wipe out Leon. In the end Leon dies but so does Stansfield.

The wonderful thing about the film is the bond that develops between Leon and Mathilda. Mathilda brings a lot of fun and joy into Leon's life. For the first time in his life, Leon's heart is open to love. Mathilda makes him feel good about himself and he could even now sleep at night. He feels he now has a future of love. Leon even arranges for all the money he's earned over the years to be paid to Mathilda, in case anything happens to him.

Mathilda feels the same way as she's never had someone who truly cares about her. In one scene we see Mathilda describing how she feels. She says she feels it in her heart.

In the final scene, after Leon has been killed, Mathilda is all alone at her new school with Leon's potted plant. She finds a space to plant it, which will be a symbol of their everlasting love.

For me, Léon is a love story as all of life is. No matter how dire the circumstances, love is always present. It's a matter of being open for Love to shine its radiant light as it did with Leon and Mathilda.

Highly recommended.

Enocia

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