The true story of the Jackal series on Disney+

Lone assassins, mercenaries, and hitmen usually form an important part of the action genre. In particular, their capture poses a challenge to the ingenuity, capabilities and resources of law enforcement agencies. In this tradition in JackalOscar winner Eddie Redmayne plays a nameless criminal with many powers. Moreover, he is ready to achieve his goals at any cost, while avoiding being captured. Therefore, the nine-episode production, which received a Golden Globe nomination, explores the complex personality of the character, his coldness and unscrupulousness. The result is an unpredictable story that defies the clichés of the suspense genre and is explored in a setting that combines politics and corruption. All through MI6 agent Bianca (Lashana Lynch) attempts to stop the criminal.

But the argument is not entirely original. This is the third film adaptation of the book Day of the Jackal (1971) by Frederick Forsyth, a best-selling novel that successfully explores the character of a mercenary who is almost impossible to stop, much less catch. He first entered films in 1973 with the help of director Fred Zinnemann. Later in 1997, director Michael Caton-Jones adapted the book and the previous film starring Bruce Willis as the anonymous killer. According to the first version, the possible victim of the killer was the wife of the French president, according to the second – an American. But despite the obvious differences, both films explored the same thing. Corruption, political power and violence are protected by the highest echelons of government.

However, the most surprising thing is that the original book is based on a very serious political event that occurred in 1960. All thanks to the writer’s passion for spy stories, urban violence and conspiracies. As a result, his most famous book is a mixture of very serious events, ranging from murder to outright attempt at global destabilization. Themes that are thoroughly explored in both the feature films and the television adaptation through a script that analyzes The capabilities of killers are on a completely new level.

Large-scale political conflict

In the early 1960s, France and Algeria were going through a violent political moment. This calls into question the North African country’s status as French territory. What began as an aggressive political and diplomatic strategy eventually escalated into war. A conflict that France approached with caution and in the midst of emergency negotiations to avoid a bloody escalation that could make the situation even worse. In particular, when the confrontation between French and Algerian soldiers became more bloody and frequent.

Under these circumstances, President Charles de Gaulle decided to mediate between both sides. This is finally a decision to radically change the policy towards confrontation. Therefore, he decided to support Algerian self-determination. The decision, which appeared to undermine French sovereignty on traditional territory, sparked distrust among the president’s political opposition. But to make matters worse, a movement arose within Algeria among Europeans and Muslims who wanted to continue being French, they opposed the presidential position.

The previous scenario led to an even greater complication of the political situation in France. Especially after the results of the referendum on January 8, 1961, which approved a negotiated exit. However, despite the triumph of those who argued for Algerian autonomy, internal pressure on Charles de Gaulle increased and became increasingly difficult to withstand. Moreover, when a series of terrorist attacks in Paris seemed to make it clear that the refusal of the independence of an African country, This became a difficult moment for the incumbent president.

Murder at the Door

The situation deteriorated so much that a turning point occurred in the French military world. This led to the creation of a paramilitary nationalist movement that declared itself the Secret Army Organization (OAS by its French acronym). The group, which insisted on respect for territories associated with France, contacted Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry. He, a lieutenant colonel in the French Air Force, took a radical political position and was convinced that Charles de Gaulle should be removed from power. Therefore, he seemed an ideal candidate to act against the government.

With tensions rising on the streets, frequent terrorist attacks and increasingly aggressive political debates, the solution seemed to lie in a realignment of power. Therefore, the OAS, together with Bastien-Thiry, began planning the assassination. In addition, a frontal attack on all authorities in order to control all diplomatic and territorial decisions of the country. The lieutenant colonel recruited a group of three riflemen and met them in Petit Clamart, a suburb of Paris. There they planned to shoot the president and his family. based on information that a military official could provide.

What happened during the so-called Petit Clamart attack. On August 22, 1962, assassins fired at least 187 bullets into the president’s car, killing two bodyguards. Charles de Gaulle and his wife managed to save their lives, but even in this case the attempt was considered extremely serious. Immediately, all French organizations, including those that reported this, They supported the president in their opposition to Algerian independence.

Tragic ending

In the following days, an operation was launched to find those responsible, in which all branches of French government took part. Shortly afterwards, Bastien-Thiry was captured, tried and convicted. In his defense, he stated that the controversy over the decolonization of Algeria was an attack on French self-determination. In the midst of a national debate about the death penalty He was found guilty and executed on March 11, 1963.

All of the above are explored in the opening pages of Forsyth’s book and provide context for the novel. In the literary plot, the OAS, after the execution of a lieutenant colonel, hires an anonymous assassin for a second attempt to assassinate Charles de Gaulle. This leads to a plot of tension, espionage and violence surrounding a brutal killer.

As in the two films and the TV series, the killer is pursued, step by step, carrying out a seemingly perfect plan. Interesting detail: the whole plot Day of the JackalTold from the killer’s point of view. Which corresponds to the series which is currently streaming on SkyShowtime in Europe and Disney+ in Latin America.