Tricheurs (1984)

Tricheurs is a French film first released in 1984, directed by Barbet Schroeder.  The film is based on a novel by Steve Baës and stars Jacques Dutronc, Bulle Ogier, Leandro Vale, Roger Serbib and Steve Baës.  It has also been released under the title: Cheaters.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


Elric is a compulsive gambler who is at the end of his tether when he meets a young woman, Suzy, on the island of Madeira.  Convinced that she will bring him luck, Elric drags Suzy off to the casino and starts to gamble.  Although Elric’s fortunes initially improve, he soon loses his winnings.  When Suzy walks away from him, Elric is penniless and he agrees to form a partnership with a notorious gaming cheat, Jorg.  The two men tour the world and make a great deal of money by cheating the casinos, but their luck soon changes: Elric meets up with Suzy again and starts losing, whilst Jorg is unmasked and goes on the run.  Still determined to make his fortune to pay for his dream chateau, Elric devises a seemingly foolproof method to win at roulette...

Despite its chocolate box cinematography, threadbare plot and two-dimensional characterisation, Tricheurs is a strangely compelling film which paints a convincing picture of obsession and dependency.

Everything about the film is so much superficial gloss, yet, like the gilt-edged seductive glamour of the gambling casino, it is a film which has a captivating hold on the spectator.  The apparent emptiness of the film manages to convey the sheer emptiness of the life of an addicted gambler, something which is emphasised by Jacques Dutronc’s poignant portrayal of Elric.

© James Travers 2001

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