Film Review
Gérard Jugnot made his directorial debut with this rather touching and, in parts,
amusing film about an ordinary French policeman. At the time, Jugnot was best known
for his work as a comic actor, famously as a member of the popular comedy troupe L'équipe
du Splendid. With
Pinot simple flic, Jugnot not only demonstrated his potential
as a director, but also his ability to take on a more serious acting role.
Jugnot's Pinot is almost as recognisable as Tati's postman in
Jour de fête, and wins our sympathy just as easily. It certainly
makes a welcome contrast to the more familiar (i.e. Belmondo/Delon) portrayal of law enforcers
as tough, indestructible supermen who live in luxury apartments surrounded by beautiful
young women.
The film's pseudo-documentary style is equally unusual but
doesn't quite work, probably because the film is centred so heavily around one character
and works less well as a satire on police methods. However, a good performance from
Jugnot and some tongue-in-cheek comedy makes this a very respectable first film.
© James Travers 2004
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Gérard Jugnot film:
Scout toujours... (1985)
Film Synopsis
It's mostly routine work being a beat cop, even in Paris's pretty rough-round-the-edges
thirteenth arrondissement. Nearly all of Robert Pinot's days as an ordinary
French cop involve patrolling the streets and dealing with minor incidents.
Not exactly Starsky and Hutch. Today will be different, however.
This is the day when Pinot meets Marylou, a drug-addicted delinquent with
a fiery spirit and evidently no future. It all begins with Pinot being
called to attend a minor fracas. The adolescent manages to get away
but she is picked up the next day. Pinot finds it significant that,
like him, she was born in Nanteuil.
From that first encounter, Pinot has feelings for the wild young woman that
no cop has a right to feel for anyone he has arrested. She is more a
girl than a woman, and it is clear she has a troubled past behind her.
Is it Pinot's paternal instincts that compel him to take an interest in her
and help her mend her ways? As he soon discovers, this will not be easy.
Marylou is still madly in love with Tony, her pimp and dealer, and is unlikely
to change her ways until Tony is brought to book. Without delay, Pinot
goes after Tony, knowing that if he can capture him he will be killing two
birds with one stone...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.