在这部局外人剧情片中,《局外人》改编自加缪同名存在主义小说，说的是一个在阿尔及利亚的法裔小职员，孤独内向，不善与人沟通，而且周围也没有人关心他。他对社会的一切事情漠不关心，甚至母亲的去世也没有让他过于伤感。后来他不慎枪杀一个流氓，却第一次引起了社会对他的关注，法庭也以他在母亲的葬礼的表现、平日生活的行为等等推断他本质顽劣。他不接受神父的告解，却对自己的生死有着肯定的看法。现实生活的荒谬，使得这个小职员成为一个无意中与法律和传统习俗格格不入的局外人。维斯康提根据法国存在主义哲学家加缪的名著《局外人》改编，却惨遭滑铁卢，不但恶评如潮，导演自己也不满意。影片主题很鲜明，有冲击力，非常忠实原著，但显得笨拙、拖沓。(此评论转自时光网，仅供参考)本片提名当年威尼斯电影节金狮奖和奥斯卡最佳外语片。
In an atmosphere of political tension when the French still control Algiers, an Algerian is killed on the beach and a French man who has lived in Algiers all his life is arrested for the murder. A trial takes place. One of the witnesses was at the funeral of Arthur Meursault's mother. It bothers other mourners and Mersault himself that he showed no emotion when his mother died. His eventful day at the beach takes place a short time after the funeral when he is examining what his life has been and what path should he take in the future.
身处局内，却是局外人。独自闪烁的碎钻石。从叙事结构看加缪的荒诞观。
