DVD Review - Le Petit Lieutenant
The most amazing thing about Xavier Beauvois' Le Petit Lieutenant is how real it feels. And, yes, this is a story of ordinary people that is done in an understated but powerful way.
As the film begins, Antoine Derouere (Jalil Lespert) is graduating from police academy. When it comes time for him to pick where he wants to work he decides to leave Normandy for a post in Paris. He does this without consulting his wife, who is a schoolteacher.
Antoine feels that he will have a better chance of working on interesting cases in Paris. He finds himself right at home in the homicide squad and rents a room from a woman who has many police officers as tenants. Soon after he arrives he meets his commanding officer Caroline Vaudieu (Nathalie Baye). Caroline is a recovering alcoholic (there are some similarities to Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison). She became an alcoholic after her son died a number of years ago. Her son would have been the same age Antoine had he lived.
Things are pretty routine until one day a body turns up in a canal. After someone else is attacked in the same way (but survives) the police know that they have a serious case on their hands.
Both Caroline and Antoine lead very lonely lives and because of this they form a bond. It is almost as if Antoine is Caroline's surrogate son.
I will not say more about what happens. All I can tell you is that this film really packs an emotional punch. Things are not wrapped up in a neat little package.
Director Beauvois has created a terrific film about coping with loss (among other things). All of the acting is very good but Baye really stands out. She won a Cesar award (French Oscar) for her performance. The last scene in the film is so wrenching (and so brilliant) that I had to watch it more than once. This scene in itself is worth more than the price of the rental. I highly recommend this film.
As the film begins, Antoine Derouere (Jalil Lespert) is graduating from police academy. When it comes time for him to pick where he wants to work he decides to leave Normandy for a post in Paris. He does this without consulting his wife, who is a schoolteacher.
Antoine feels that he will have a better chance of working on interesting cases in Paris. He finds himself right at home in the homicide squad and rents a room from a woman who has many police officers as tenants. Soon after he arrives he meets his commanding officer Caroline Vaudieu (Nathalie Baye). Caroline is a recovering alcoholic (there are some similarities to Helen Mirren's Jane Tennison). She became an alcoholic after her son died a number of years ago. Her son would have been the same age Antoine had he lived.
Things are pretty routine until one day a body turns up in a canal. After someone else is attacked in the same way (but survives) the police know that they have a serious case on their hands.
Both Caroline and Antoine lead very lonely lives and because of this they form a bond. It is almost as if Antoine is Caroline's surrogate son.
I will not say more about what happens. All I can tell you is that this film really packs an emotional punch. Things are not wrapped up in a neat little package.
Director Beauvois has created a terrific film about coping with loss (among other things). All of the acting is very good but Baye really stands out. She won a Cesar award (French Oscar) for her performance. The last scene in the film is so wrenching (and so brilliant) that I had to watch it more than once. This scene in itself is worth more than the price of the rental. I highly recommend this film.
posted by Film Fanatic | 5:57 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home