Nikita is a young girl whilst helping rob a pharmacy kills a policeman. Rather than being put into prison, Nikita is given the chance to make up for her crime by becoming a state run assassin.

Le Femme Nikita was written and directed by Luc Besson and was one of his first movies. With Anne Parillaud as the titular character, Besson crafts an ugly duckling story with a twist. The transformation that Nikita takes on is wonderful as she becomes what the government want her to be.

Set in France and filmed in French, Nikita is stylish, with attitude, in a way that most English speaking movies, especially those made in Hollywood rarely can be.

Tcheky Karyo also stars as Nikita’s supervisor/mentor and gives an amazing performance.

While released in 1990, Le Femme Nikita is still an amazing movie, hard hitting and violent when it has to be, but with a light touch that stops the movie from spiraling down into the darkness. Remade by Hollywood in 1993 as Point of No Return, Le Femme Nikita also inspired a TV show of the same name.

If you can speak French or don’t mind subtitles, then Le Femme Nikita is a truly special movie.