The term “rififi” is underworld French slang for rough and tumble, usually associated with combat between rival gangs. Jules Dassin’s 1955 French film noir “Rififi” attempts to explain the meaning of this through an exquisitely engineered jewelry heist that looks way ahead of its time in a 2001 viewing.

The movie starts briskly, getting right to the point as it introduces the four main characters that make up a gang of thugs. Jo the Swede (Carl M

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