À mort l’arbitre (1984) - film review

Maurice is a referee for a decisive soccer match between two French football teams.  He offers a penalty to one of the teams, allowing them to win the match, but this causes a furore amongst the supporters of the opposing team.  In the ensuing riot, Maurice manages to escape from the stadium, but is pursued by a hardened group of supporters who want revenge.  Maurice and his girlfriend, Martine, are pursued through a television study, across town to his girlfriend’s flat, and ultimately to an industrial complex.  When one of the supporters accidentally kills another, the stakes are raised.  The supporters are determined to kill the referee...

With its bubbling mix of adventure and black comedy, this film shows how easily obsession can get out of hand, turning a group of hyperactive, but law-abiding individuals, into a mob of potential killers.  The action starts early in the film and never lets up for a second, making this a breathtaking and relentless action film.

Although almost invisible for the first half of the film, Michel Serrault dominates the latter part of the film, with one of his most disturbing performances.  By contrast, Eddy Mitchell (now better known as a pop singer) is far too well coiffeured and stylish ever to be entirely convincing as a mere football referee.

The tragi-comic ending will surprise many viewers, but is perhaps something you might expect from the film’s director, Jean-Pierre Mocky, a man who is not adverse to courting controversy.

© James Travers 2000

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