Film Review
The central premise of the film - that the man investigating a serious crime should end
up distrusting his superior as much as the villains - is an interesting one. But,
despite a fairly good performance from Patrick Bruel, the idea just doesn't seem to ring
true. From the first scene, Thurston immediately strikes us as a weirdo, and therefore
probably not to be trusted. Meanwhile, the villains remain villains, and pretty
nasty ones at that, throughout. Where is the moral dilemma that Inspector Vade faces?
Why doesn't he just duck out of the case after the first five minutes? What keeps
him involved? The film is, however, very competently photographed.
© James Travers 2000
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Michel Deville film:
Aux petits bonheurs (1994)
Film Synopsis
When an elderly couple are found dead, murdered in their Alpine village,
the attention of the police is immediately focussed on their son, Antoine
Gardella. Seemingly a respectable businessman, Gardella is in fact
a ruthless gangster who is heavily involved in drugs trafficking and is known
to have connections with the Mafia. Christophe Vade, a French police
inspector, is assigned by Interpol to inveigle his way into Gardella's sordid
world and obtain evidence of criminal behaviour that will secure a conviction.
Thus begins a dangerous game of cat and mouse involving an unscrupulous career
criminal and the young but resilient cop who is determined to expose him.
The incredibly wealthy Gardella presently lives in a splendid lakeside villa
in Switzerland, with his son Thomas and second wife Jeanne. His right-hand
man Scandurat and bodyguard Roselli are also near to hand. Gardella's
attempts to distract Vade with Laura, his seductive financial adviser, fail
to have the desired result. The inspector is far more interested in
Jeanne, a woman of mystery who turns out to be not what she seems.
Meanwhile, Vade's impetuous assistant Husquin gets himself into deep water
when, on discovering that Gardella ordered the execution of his parents'
murderers, resorts to an injudicious spot of blackmail...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.