An Irish-American gangster, a Mexican assassin, a Palestinian resistance fighter, and a French swindler each escape their own countries and end up in a Central American village. Life is incredibly difficult in the remote and poverty-stricken area, but they are offered a way out—by transporting two trucks loaded with volatile dynamite. If they are to complete this job alive, the four men must overcome the treacherous terrain of the jungle and the conflict between them. Fresh off the success of The Exorcist (1973), director William Friedkin took on this ambitious project, which encountered many production and technical difficulties. Upon its theatrical release, the film did not perform well at the box office, which was dominated by Star Wars (1977). But Sorcerer’s reputation has only grown over the years, thanks to its thrilling sequences and Tangerine Dream’s transcendent score.

William Friedkin (1935–2023, United States) was best known for directing The Exorcist (1973), which shocked audiences worldwide and brought unprecedented attention to horror cinema. Although he was already an Oscar-winning director with his previous film The French Connection (1971), Friedkin was not content with playing it safe. Even after the financially unsuccessful Sorcerer (1977), he took another big risk with Cruising (1980), starring Al Pacino as a cop going undercover in a S&M club. The New Hollywood stalwart continued to work until his late seventies, premiering his final film Killer Joe (2011) at Venice Film Festival.