Directed by cult Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismäki, I Hired a Contract Killer follows Henri Boulanger (Jean-Pierre Léaud, The 400 Blows), a lonely French ex-pat who finds himself suddenly made redundant after fifteen years of loyal service. Overwhelmed by isolation and feeling utterly devoid of purpose, Henri decides to end his own life, but a series of comical, bureaucratic mishaps prevents him from completing the task himself.
Desperate, he visits a seedy underbelly establishment to hire a professional assassin to do the job for him. However, shortly after signing the contract, Henri walks into a local pub and meets Margaret (Margi Clarke, 24 Hour Party People), a sweet-natured flower seller. Falling instantly in love, Henri suddenly finds a profound new reason to live. The only problem is that the contract cannot be cancelled, the secret establishment has been demolished, and a terminally ill hitman is already tirelessly tracking his every move.