J'ai vu tuer Ben Barka (2005)
Directed by Serge Le Péron, Saïd Smihi

Thriller / Drama
aka: I Saw Ben Barka Get Killed

Film Review

Abstract picture representing J'ai vu tuer Ben Barka (2005)
It would be so easy to dismiss J'ai vu tuer Ben Barka as nothing more than a self-indulgent pastiche of the 1960s French thriller.  Anyone familiar with this kind of film cannot help but notice the seemingly endless references to the genre that was so popular in that decade.  Whilst the visuals are certainly impressive - these alone make a respectful and meticulous homage to the classic film policier, with some stylish film noir touches - it does ultimately feel like a slavish and rather vacuous exercise in imitation for its own sake.  The problem is that, beyond the seductive surface gloss, there's not a great deal to hold and reward the spectator's attention.  The narrative is baffling, a mishmash of confusing subplots with two-dimensional, poorly delineated characters.

To a French person with some knowledge of political events of the mid-1960s, the film should have far greater significance.  The objective of the film would presumably be to shed some light on the mysterious and still unexplained murder of the prominent Moroccan politician Mehdi Ben Barka in 1965.  Far from silencing the affair, a heavy-handed government cover-up during the final De Gaulle presidency only fermented speculation, with some prominent journalists suggesting a wide-ranging conspiracy involving the French secret services, Mossad and the CIA.  There's clearly a fascinating story to be told here but J'ai vu tuer Ben Barka fails to come up with the goods.  Its director, Serge Le Péron, seems to be far more interested in playing with style than in telling a coherent and believable story.  Compared with the director's previous political thriller - the impressive L'Affaire Marcorelle (2000) - this one is somewhat disappointing, even if it is a glossier production and boasts a stronger cast.  Rather than helping to resolve the mystery or even give a plausible account of the known facts, the film only succeeds in muddying some blood-stained waters even further.
© James Travers 2007
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.

Film Synopsis

In January 1966, Georges Figon, a renowned criminal, is found dead in a Parisian apartment.  His death is connected with the recent abduction and alleged execution in France of Mehdi Ben Barka, leader of the opposition party in Morocco and a key political figure in the Third World.  A year ago, shortly after leaving prison, Figon was persuaded by one of his underworld contacts to make a documentary about decolonisation.  The film would be directed by Georges Franju and scripted by Marguerite Duras, with Ben Barka acting as historical consultant.  Without realising it, Figon has allowed himself to be the bait in a very dangerous game of political intrigue…
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: Serge Le Péron, Saïd Smihi
  • Script: Serge Le Péron, Frédérique Moreau, Saïd Smihi
  • Cinematographer: Christophe Pollock
  • Music: Joan Albert Amargós, Pierre-Alexandre Mati
  • Cast: Charles Berling (Georges Figon), Simon Abkarian (Mehdi Ben Barka), Josiane Balasko (Marguerite Duras), Jean-Pierre Léaud (Georges Franju), Fabienne Babe (Anne-Marie Coffinet), Mathieu Amalric (Philippe Bernier), Azize Kabouche (Chtouki), François Hadji-Lazaro (Le Ny), Jean-Marie Winling (Maître Pierre Lemarchand), Franck Tiozzo (Georges Boucheseiche), Jo Prestia (Dubail), José María Blanco (Juge), Georges Bigot (Inspecteur Louis Souchon), Rony Kramer (Lopez), Xavier Serrat (Voitot), Brahim Aït El Kadi (Thami Azzemouri), Mouna Fettou (Ghita Ben Barka), Fayçal Khyari (Mohamed Oufkir), Igor Skreblin (Journaliste en voiture), Hubert Saint-Macary (Médecin légiste)
  • Country: France / Morocco
  • Language: Arabic / French
  • Support: Color
  • Runtime: 101 min
  • Aka: I Saw Ben Barka Get Killed

The best of Japanese cinema
sb-img-21
The cinema of Japan is noteworthy for its purity, subtlety and visual impact. The films of Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kurosawa are sublime masterpieces of film poetry.
The best films of Ingmar Bergman
sb-img-16
The meaning of life, the trauma of existence and the nature of faith - welcome to the stark and enlightening world of the world's greatest filmmaker.
French cinema during the Nazi Occupation
sb-img-10
Even in the dark days of the Occupation, French cinema continued to impress with its artistry and diversity.
The Carry On films, from the heyday of British film comedy
sb-img-17
Looking for a deeper insight into the most popular series of British film comedies? Visit our page and we'll give you one.
The best French war films ever made
sb-img-6
For a nation that was badly scarred by both World Wars, is it so surprising that some of the most profound and poignant war films were made in France?
 

Other things to look at


Copyright © filmsdefrance.com 1998-2024
All rights reserved



All content on this page is protected by copyright