Wasn't the "big boss" also the big brother of the guy rowing out to the sub? The voice-over indicated that they didn't recognize each other, adding a further irony to the previous scene where the brothers are reunited in Paris. We don't discover the identity of the big boss until his face is seen in the submarine scene. Is it possible that they rowed out to the submarine together without realizing each others' identity, or did I miss something?
shareLuc was in shadow and Jean-Francois couldn't see him clearly, so no, I don't think he knows his brother is the chief.
I guess it could be read to be ambiguous, but I don't think there's a knowing irony in Jean-Francois wanting to tell his brother about the event, just an irony. Whether or not Luc knew it was his younger brother -- I don't know. Since the camera can clearly make him out I'm assuming Luc probably can too.
On the DVD commentary it says that Melville avoided having Jean-Francois know his brother was the chief to avoid any kind of melodrama that would become inherent to the situation. Rather than it becoming a huge plot point, it serves as a little detail and I think that's where a lot of Melville's brilliance stems from -- how damn understated things are. In the hands of another filmmaker that scenario would be exploited and mined for an ultimately hollow emotional resonance that would only call attention to the incredibly dubious coincidence.
Wait a minute! His brother is the chief? I honestly didn't realize this on my first viewing. Are we talking about the guy Jean-Francois met in Paris who built his own greenhouse?
Believe me, you don't want Hannibal Lecter inside your head."
Yes, in the film Jean François Jardie (who "reports" to Philippe Gerbier) is the younger brother of Luc Jardie (who Philippe Gerbier "reports" to).
Oh, even though it's too late by the time you read this post...SPOILER ALERT.
I noticed that the "chief" is the older brother the young man had just visited in Paris. But I couldn't quite make out as to why the brothers don't acknowledge each other. I thought it could be because they were told to be absolutely silent. But as the above comments indicate, the younger brother simply did not see the face of his older brother.
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