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I grew up hearing the word Nikita, associating it with a famous song by Elton John. Then I learned about a film with the same name and thought that its lyrics had inspired the creation of the main character, but that's not the case.
Nikita is a French-Italian film that was released in 1990. It was a huge success and spawned many remakes, including a short-lived television series and an Asian version. I first saw it when I was little and had forgotten about it until I happened to see it again a few weeks ago and remembered that I had seen it before.
It is a crime, romance and thriller film. In the first version, you can see how old the film is; the photography, costumes and special effects transport you to the past of cinema, but its plot is powerful and timeless, which guarantees success in any production.
The main character is Nikita, a young, violent addict with no family who is part of a gang, with an irreverent style, coloured hair and ripped jeans, which was unusual for the time. She was pure rebellion. The film begins with a scene of a pharmacy robbery where all the assailants were men and she was the only woman. They were looking for drugs, and everything gets out of control when the owner wakes up and recognises his son among the assailants. A shootout ensues, and everyone dies except Nikita.
The authorities see her as a different kind of woman and decide to use her as a lethal weapon. They keep her isolated and detoxify her until they explain why they are holding her and what her rights are, which in reality are none. She was locked up in a place that looked like a school, where she was fed, clothed and taught everything about weapons, wrestling, martial arts, etiquette and protocol, everything she could and wanted to learn to reinvent herself in society and carry out special orders. The system turned her into a hitwoman and she had no choice but to accept this job.
What I liked most was seeing Nikita's transformation from a social outcast with no future to a sophisticated, intelligent and calculating woman, although deep down she was still an innocent girl. The romantic part left me unsatisfied because I always hoped she would have something more intimate with her mentor, and that never happened, but the ending is promising as it gives Nikita hope.
I think this film was a success because it broke the mould of an era. Women were beginning to raise their voices and take centre stage in many areas, and Nikita represents that woman who does not let herself be defeated and can rise from the ashes, although this version is still essentially the same killer. It has its moments of psychological tension. Whether you have seen any of the other versions or none at all, I invite you to watch the original.
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