Film Screening 8th August, 2006

Poster for 36 Quai des Orf((eacute))vres

36 Quai des Orf((eacute))vres 

8:00 PM, 8th August, 2006

  • MA
  • 110 mins
  • 2004
  • Olivier Marchal
  • Dominique Loiseau, Frank Mancuso, Olivier Marchal, Julien Rappeneau
  • Daniel Auteuil, G((eacute))rard Depardieu, Valeria Golino, Andr((eacute)) Dussollier, Roschdy Zem

No, its not an item on a French restaurant's menu, but the address of French police headquarters. Working there are two cops: Leo Vrinks (Auteuil, whose name I had to check the spelling of again, even though I wrote the review for Apr((eacute))s Vous... last semester!) and Denis Klein (Depardieu, who's easier to spell). Both are very flawed human beings in different ways, and when the position of Commissioner is up for grabs, their individual ambitions set them up for major conflict.This movie has been called the French version of Heat, because (a) it's about cops and robbers; and (b) it stars the two most respected actors in the country. Whilst Auteuil and Depardieu are no de Niro and Pacino, this story has plenty to offer, mainly in twists and turns. There are not many likeable characters, and the story does get bogged down occasionally but, if you like your law-enforcers corrupt and morally ambiguous, then this is a movie for you.(Note: The movie was released as simply 36 in the U.K., which is surprising since you'd assume they would be better at French lingo than us. Mind you, maybe it would have been confusing that way for film-goers here, who may have expected a '24' type movie!)