Pépé le Moko (re-release)

In the labyrinthine recesses of Algiers' Casbah, Pépé le Moko (Jean Gabin), a notorious thief, has been hiding in plain sight for nearly two years, evading capture through a combination of cunning and community support. Despite Inspector Slimane's (Lucas Gridoux) best efforts to apprehend him, Pépé's whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery, thanks to the intricate layout of his hideout. Trapped in a cycle of monotony, Pépé's life becomes a series of tedious routines, with the constant threat of arrest hanging over his head like the sword of Damocles.

One fateful night, Pépé's world is turned upside down by the arrival of Gaby (Mireille Balin), a stunning Parisienne who sets his heart aflame. Meanwhile, Régis, a Casbah resident with ties to the authorities, hatches a plan to use Pierrot, one of Pépé's closest friends, as bait to lure him out of hiding. Unbeknownst to Pépé, Slimane has also caught wind of his infatuation with Gaby and decides to bring her and her entourage to the Casbah, hoping to catch the thief off guard.

As tensions simmer just below the surface, a series of events unfolds that threatens to upend Pépé's carefully constructed world. Pierrot goes missing, sparking a confrontation between Pépé and Régis that ends in tragedy when Régis meets his maker. Gaby's sudden departure without saying goodbye sends Pépé reeling into a nervous breakdown, only to be manipulated by Ines into staying put.

In a desperate attempt to reclaim the love of his life, Pépé sets out to find Gaby once more, leading him on a wild goose chase through the winding alleys and hidden courtyards of the Casbah. But just as it seems he's closing in on her, Inspector Slimane intervenes, revealing that Gaby has been told of Pépé's demise and is about to leave Algiers forever. Devastated by this news, Pépé writes a poignant letter to his beloved Gaby, entrusting it to Carlos for delivery.

In the end, it's not the authorities that bring Pépé down, but his own desperation and despair. As he watches Gaby sail away into the distance, Pépé's world finally shatters, leading him to take his own life in a tragic act of self-destruction.