Leon (1994)

When Léon: The Professional premiered in 1994, it didn’t just introduce audiences to one of Luc Besson’s most stylish and emotionally complex films—it also launched a career (Natalie Portman), redefined another (Jean Reno), and gave Gary Oldman one of his most disturbingly magnetic roles. Over the years, it has become a cult classic, both celebrated for its raw emotional power and criticized for its unsettling implications.

As a blend of hitman thriller, coming-of-age drama, and European arthouse sensibility, Léon remains a singular cinematic experience—intimate yet violent, tender yet morally ambiguous.

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)

Set in New York City, the film centers on Léon (Jean Reno), a reclusive, methodical hitman (“cleaner”) who works for the mob under shady middleman Tony (Danny Aiello). Léon leads a quiet, austere life in the shadows—his only companions are a potted plant and the occasional glass of milk.

His life changes abruptly when he forms an unlikely bond with Mathilda (Natalie Portman in her film debut), a 12-year-old girl whose family is murdered by corrupt DEA agents, led by the unhinged Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Mathilda seeks refuge with Léon and begs him to teach her how to “clean”—to become a hitman—so she can exact revenge on the people who destroyed her life.

What follows is a strange, poignant, and often uncomfortable story of survival, violence, innocence, and emotional dependency, told through the lens of a relationship that defies easy categorization.

Performances

Jean Reno gives a career-defining performance as Léon. With minimal dialogue and an emotionally stunted character, Reno relies on subtle physical cues to convey Léon’s inner world. Beneath the cold efficiency of a contract killer lies a man who, emotionally, is almost as naive and isolated as the girl he protects. Reno's performance is restrained, vulnerable, and deeply humanizing.

Natalie Portman, only 11 years old at the time of filming, is astonishing. As Mathilda, she combines toughness, wit, and deep emotional scars into a performance that is mature beyond her years. She walks a razor’s edge between child and adult, playing a role that is as emotionally demanding as it is controversial. Portman instantly demonstrated the depth and control that would define her career.

Gary Oldman, meanwhile, turns in one of the most unforgettable villain performances of the 1990s. As Stansfield, he is wild, erratic, terrifying, and often absurd. His now-iconic “EVERYONE!!!” line has become internet shorthand for over-the-top acting, but the performance works because Oldman never plays it safe. He is chaos personified—a truly original villain who steals every scene.

Direction and Style

Luc Besson, at the height of his visual powers, directs Léon with flair and elegance. Known for his love of stylized violence (La Femme Nikita, The Fifth Element), Besson balances brutal action with lyrical moments of silence and intimacy. His signature visual language—tracking shots, slow zooms, and stark lighting—gives the film a dreamlike quality.

Despite being set in New York, the film is thoroughly European in tone. There’s a certain detachment from realism, a stylized emotional intensity that’s common in French cinema but less so in American thrillers. This approach gives the film its strange, almost fairytale-like atmosphere, even as it explores themes of death, abuse, and moral ambiguity.

The cinematography by Thierry Arbogast is exceptional, with muted colour palettes, gritty urban textures, and beautifully framed close-ups that emphasize the characters' isolation.

Themes and Subtext

Innocence and Corruption

At its heart, Léon is about the collision between innocence and violence. Léon is a killer with a childlike soul, while Mathilda is a child forced to grow up too fast. The film subverts traditional roles—he is the protector who needs emotional saving, and she is the orphan who becomes the teacher of life and emotion.

Surrogate Fatherhood

Their bond is often read as a surrogate father-daughter relationship. Léon provides Mathilda with protection, structure, and a sense of stability, while Mathilda offers Léon companionship and a reason to live beyond survival. But the relationship is layered and sometimes disturbingly ambiguous, particularly in the longer “international cut,” where suggestive moments make the dynamic more morally uncomfortable.

Loneliness and Redemption

Both Léon and Mathilda are, at their core, desperately lonely. The film presents their bond as a form of mutual salvation—two broken people finding something close to love in the middle of trauma and danger. For Léon, this bond becomes a path to redemption. For Mathilda, it becomes a reason to believe in a future.

Controversy and Ambiguity

Over the years, Léon has faced criticism for its depiction of the relationship between an adult man and a young girl. While Besson insists the film is about emotional intimacy, not sexuality, the dynamic is undeniably complex. The U.S. theatrical version toned down some scenes from the international cut, which contains dialogue and sequences that make Mathilda’s feelings toward Léon more overtly romantic.

This moral ambiguity has sparked significant debate. Is the film a sensitive portrayal of trauma and surrogate love, or is it irresponsibly suggestive? The answer likely depends on the viewer’s interpretation, but the fact that the question lingers speaks to the film's emotional power and ethical complexity.

Soundtrack and Atmosphere

Eric Serra’s haunting score perfectly complements the film’s mood. Melancholic, atmospheric, and occasionally whimsical, the music deepens the emotional texture without overwhelming the story. The final scene—set to Sting’s “Shape of My Heart”—is one of the most emotionally resonant finales of the decade.

Legacy and Influence

Despite its limited box office success in the U.S., Léon: The Professional has become a cult classic. It’s frequently cited among the best action-dramas of the '90s and remains a major touchstone in discussions of stylized crime cinema.

Its influence is seen in everything from Logan (2017) to The Mandalorian—stories about hardened killers finding redemption through protecting vulnerable children. Natalie Portman’s career was launched by her performance, and Gary Oldman’s Stansfield is consistently ranked among the most memorable villains in film history.

Final Verdict

Léon: The Professional is a film of contradictions: brutal and tender, thrilling and intimate, controversial and poignant. Luc Besson’s bold direction, combined with unforgettable performances by Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, and Gary Oldman, creates a film that is as emotionally gripping as it is stylistically accomplished.

While its thematic ambiguity makes it a difficult film to categorize—and even harder to comfortably discuss—it is precisely this complexity that gives Léon its lasting power. Nearly three decades later, it still compels, disturbs, and moves.