Man vs. machine chess thriller Rematch was awarded the International Competition grand prize at the 2024 Series Mania festival on Friday night (March 22) in Lille, France.
Inspired by the true story of the historic confrontation between chess master Garry Kasparov and Ibm’s supercomputer Deep Blue, the AI-themed story created by Yan England, André Gulluni and Bruno Nahon is produced by Unité, Arte France, Federation Studios and Proton and stars Christian Cooke. Federation Studios handles international sales.
Scroll down for full list of winners
The international competition jury, presided by The Oa creator Zal Batmanglij, also gave awards to the stars...
Inspired by the true story of the historic confrontation between chess master Garry Kasparov and Ibm’s supercomputer Deep Blue, the AI-themed story created by Yan England, André Gulluni and Bruno Nahon is produced by Unité, Arte France, Federation Studios and Proton and stars Christian Cooke. Federation Studios handles international sales.
Scroll down for full list of winners
The international competition jury, presided by The Oa creator Zal Batmanglij, also gave awards to the stars...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
French hip-hop series Le Monde de Demain has scooped the Grand Prize at the Series Mania International Competition.
Announced at a ceremony tonight and presided over by Jury President Julia Sinkevych, Arte/Netflix’s TV series about the birth of the French rap movement beat off stiff competition from the likes of Michael Hirst’s Billy the Kid and Israel’s Fire Dance.
Based on an original idea by Katell Quillévéré and Hélier Cisterne, the show, which translates in English as World of Tomorrow, features the likes of JoeyStarr and DJ Détonateur S, who created a rebellious and euphoric form of expression and brought rap to France.
Yehuda Levi, lead in Fire Dance, won Best Actor and Michelle De Swarte won Best Actress for her performance in Sky/HBO’s The Baby.
Meanwhile, Discovery+ Sweden’s The Dark Heart won Best Series in the International Panorama, the Special Jury Prize...
Announced at a ceremony tonight and presided over by Jury President Julia Sinkevych, Arte/Netflix’s TV series about the birth of the French rap movement beat off stiff competition from the likes of Michael Hirst’s Billy the Kid and Israel’s Fire Dance.
Based on an original idea by Katell Quillévéré and Hélier Cisterne, the show, which translates in English as World of Tomorrow, features the likes of JoeyStarr and DJ Détonateur S, who created a rebellious and euphoric form of expression and brought rap to France.
Yehuda Levi, lead in Fire Dance, won Best Actor and Michelle De Swarte won Best Actress for her performance in Sky/HBO’s The Baby.
Meanwhile, Discovery+ Sweden’s The Dark Heart won Best Series in the International Panorama, the Special Jury Prize...
- 3/25/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Asia Argento (xXx), French rapper-actor JoeyStarr (Polisse) and Italian star Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) are set to lead cast in French-language thriller Interstate (La Saveur De La Mort).
The movie is a supernatural thriller in which a hitman (JoeyStarr), facing an existential crisis, decides to exit the game and leave town with the woman he loves, but his plans are disrupted by a mysterious young man and his ruthless former boss.
Jean Luc Herbulot – whose Senegalese action film Saloum is playing in TIFF’s Midnight Madness strand — is directing.
XYZ is handling world sales minus France and Belgium and will begin discussing with buyers during the Toronto market.
Pic was written by Anthony Jaswinski (The Shallows) and is produced by Jean-Jacques Neira for Fontana (Belgium), Christophe Mazodier for Polaris Films (France) and Hicham Benkirane at Hbk F.C.
Filming is slated to begin this winter for a late 2022 release.
The movie is a supernatural thriller in which a hitman (JoeyStarr), facing an existential crisis, decides to exit the game and leave town with the woman he loves, but his plans are disrupted by a mysterious young man and his ruthless former boss.
Jean Luc Herbulot – whose Senegalese action film Saloum is playing in TIFF’s Midnight Madness strand — is directing.
XYZ is handling world sales minus France and Belgium and will begin discussing with buyers during the Toronto market.
Pic was written by Anthony Jaswinski (The Shallows) and is produced by Jean-Jacques Neira for Fontana (Belgium), Christophe Mazodier for Polaris Films (France) and Hicham Benkirane at Hbk F.C.
Filming is slated to begin this winter for a late 2022 release.
- 9/9/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Italian stars Asia Argento (xXx), and Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) will join French actor and rapper JoeyStarr (Polisse) to lead the cast of Interstate (La Saveur de la Mort), a French-language supernational thriller being introduced to buyers at the Toronto Film Market.
JoeyStarr will play a hitman facing a very French existential crisis who decides to get out of the business and jump town with the woman he loves (Argento). But his former boss (Scarmarcio) has other plans.
Jean Luc Herbulot, whose Senegalese action film Saloum premieres Sept. 16 in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival will direct....
JoeyStarr will play a hitman facing a very French existential crisis who decides to get out of the business and jump town with the woman he loves (Argento). But his former boss (Scarmarcio) has other plans.
Jean Luc Herbulot, whose Senegalese action film Saloum premieres Sept. 16 in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival will direct....
The director is shooting a Nord-Ouest Films production sold by WTFilms on the early days of French hip hop band Ntm, starring Théo Christine and Sandor Funtek in the roles of JoeyStarr and Kool Shen. On 5 August, filming commenced on Suprêmes, Audrey Estrougo’s 6th full-length movie after Ain’t Scared (uncovered in the 2008 Berlinale Forum), Leila (2011), Une histoire banale (2014), Jailbirds (which earned itself a 2017 Magritte nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category) and A la folie (whose release date is yet to be confirmed). Standing tall in the cast are Théo Christine (who made his mark in the series Skam France and whom we’ll be seeing in French cinemas on 28 October by way of My Best Part), Sandor Funtek,...
Under the new leadership of industry veteran Kristina Zimmermann, Orange Studio, the film/TV division of the French telco group Orange, is launching three new projects at Berlin’s European Film Market: “Last Film Show,” “Old Fashioned” and “Love Song for Tough Guys.”
Directed by Pan Nalin (“Samsara”), “Last Film Show” follows Samay, a 9-year-old boy living with his family in a remote village in India. One day, he discovers films and is instantly mesmerized. Against his father’s wishes, he returns to the cinema day after day and sets off to become a filmmaker at all costs.
“It’s a personal film for Pan Nalin as it’s inspired by his own life, and it has a beautiful cinematography, because Pan Nalin is also a talented photographer,” said Zimmermann, who joined Orange Studio last July after working for nearly three decades at Canal Plus Group. “‘Last Film Show’ is...
Directed by Pan Nalin (“Samsara”), “Last Film Show” follows Samay, a 9-year-old boy living with his family in a remote village in India. One day, he discovers films and is instantly mesmerized. Against his father’s wishes, he returns to the cinema day after day and sets off to become a filmmaker at all costs.
“It’s a personal film for Pan Nalin as it’s inspired by his own life, and it has a beautiful cinematography, because Pan Nalin is also a talented photographer,” said Zimmermann, who joined Orange Studio last July after working for nearly three decades at Canal Plus Group. “‘Last Film Show’ is...
- 2/21/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Diving into the hundreds of new theatrical releases, including large chunks of grueling, gluttonous marathons through world cinema’s greatest offerings from a variety of film festivals, and coming to a reasonable list of selections demonstrating what one deems to be ‘the best,’ remains an utterly self-involved, sometimes fruitless tradition. Who, after all, can rightly determine what is indeed ‘best’ in an art form where one person’s trash is another’s treasure? Personally, I prefer to compile a list of ‘favorite’ things, items which remain meaningless unless you put stock in its author’s general tastes.
Amidst the incessant jabbering of awards season exaggeration, it’s difficult not to be swayed by the most topical, most shiny and brand new theatrical releases courting awards voters (which is why I felt it necessary to see Inarritu’s new film twice). Nearly half of my selections appeared on my mid-year list of favored theatrical releases,...
Amidst the incessant jabbering of awards season exaggeration, it’s difficult not to be swayed by the most topical, most shiny and brand new theatrical releases courting awards voters (which is why I felt it necessary to see Inarritu’s new film twice). Nearly half of my selections appeared on my mid-year list of favored theatrical releases,...
- 12/14/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Stars: Tomer Sisley, Serge Riaboukine, Julien Boisselier, Joey Starr, Laurent Stocker, Birol Ünel, Lizzie Brocheré, Samy Seghir, Dominique Bettenfeld, Adel Bencherif, Catalina Denis, Pom Klementieff, Vincent Bersoulle, Olivier Massart | Written by Frédéric Jardin, Nicolas Saada, Olivier Douyère | Directed by Frédéric Jardin
A cop’s secret life is threatened to be exposed when he and his partner are seen stealing drugs from a powerful drug dealer. When his son is kidnapped and the drug dealer demands the return of what was stolen, the cop must figure out how to get the drugs into the right hands, protect his son and keep his secret from the other police officers who are on his tail. It looks as if it is going to be a long, sleepless night.
Sleepless Night shows us that French people can be badass too. Others have compared this film to Die Hard, which is understandable as there are many similarities.
A cop’s secret life is threatened to be exposed when he and his partner are seen stealing drugs from a powerful drug dealer. When his son is kidnapped and the drug dealer demands the return of what was stolen, the cop must figure out how to get the drugs into the right hands, protect his son and keep his secret from the other police officers who are on his tail. It looks as if it is going to be a long, sleepless night.
Sleepless Night shows us that French people can be badass too. Others have compared this film to Die Hard, which is understandable as there are many similarities.
- 1/7/2015
- by Richard Axtell
- Nerdly
Following the success of Bob Geldof’s latest Band Aid effort to fight Ebola, France will soon have its own charity Christmas tune. Former first lady and current Bvlgari model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will lead the effort, to be called Christmas is Here (Noel est la). She will be joined by French music and film stars, including Vanessa Paradis, Lou Doillon, Cesar-winner Izia Higelin and popular rapper-turned-actor Joey Starr. Singer and composer Jean-Louis Albert, who scored 2008’s I’ve Loved you So Long starring Kristin Scott Thomas, and French Idol (Nouvelle Star) winner Christophe Willem will also participate, according
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- 11/21/2014
- by Rhonda Richford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
None of the movies he's starred in have been formerly released here in the USA (or, at least, English-subtitled versions of them for non-French speakers), but I'm hoping that, eventually, one of them will be picked up by an American distributor and released in these United States, because I'm really curious to finally see what this guy can do on screen, given just how active he appears to be in French cinema, especially in what look like rather high profile, mostly action/thriller projects - likely a rarity for a French-Martinican rapper-turned-actor in France. Up next for the busy Joeystarr is a crime thriller titled "Colt 45," from Belgian director Fabrice Du Welz,...
- 7/10/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Alleluia
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Writers: Fabrice Du Welz
Producer: Clément Miserez, Vincent Tavier, Matthieu Warter
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Laurent Lucas, Lola Duenas, Helena Noguerra
While he hasn’t released anything since 2008’s sorely underrated Vinyan, Belgian director Fabrice Du Welz has been busy. His first film since then, the Joey Starr led action thriller Colt 45, wrapped some time ago, and while we thought we’d see this released somewhere in 2013, it looks like 2014 should usher it into theaters. But even more exciting is that Welz is in post-production with Alleluia, which is meant to be the second chapter in his Ardennes trilogy, an opus kicked off by his delectably bizarre debut, 2004’s The Ordeal. This latest sees him reteam with everyone’s favorite star of weirdo French films, Laurent Lucas (who starred in The Ordeal), co-written and produced by Vincent Tavier, the man who wrote...
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Writers: Fabrice Du Welz
Producer: Clément Miserez, Vincent Tavier, Matthieu Warter
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available
Cast: Laurent Lucas, Lola Duenas, Helena Noguerra
While he hasn’t released anything since 2008’s sorely underrated Vinyan, Belgian director Fabrice Du Welz has been busy. His first film since then, the Joey Starr led action thriller Colt 45, wrapped some time ago, and while we thought we’d see this released somewhere in 2013, it looks like 2014 should usher it into theaters. But even more exciting is that Welz is in post-production with Alleluia, which is meant to be the second chapter in his Ardennes trilogy, an opus kicked off by his delectably bizarre debut, 2004’s The Ordeal. This latest sees him reteam with everyone’s favorite star of weirdo French films, Laurent Lucas (who starred in The Ordeal), co-written and produced by Vincent Tavier, the man who wrote...
- 3/6/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Colt 45
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Writer: Fathi Beddiar
Producers: Julien Arnoux, Sébastien Delloye, Thomas Langmann, Emmanuel Montamat
U.S. Distributor: Rights Avilable
Cast: Gerard Lanvin, Joey Starr, Alice Taglioni, Philippe Nahon
The very busy Belgian director Fabrice Du Welz makes our 2014 list twice (see the number 20 position), and this second entry feels like more of departure for the director. An cop thriller from a first time screenwriter, we’re curious to see Welz’s union with Joey Starr, along with uniting once more with the generally terrifying Philippe Nahon.
Gist: Weapon supervisor and shooting instructor for National Police, Vincent Milès is an expert in combat shooting. He’s only 25 and the elites from all around the globe are courting him. Against all odds, he refuses to join the prestigious field squads. His life takes a crucial turn when he meets Milo Cardena, a mysterious field agent, who drags him...
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Writer: Fathi Beddiar
Producers: Julien Arnoux, Sébastien Delloye, Thomas Langmann, Emmanuel Montamat
U.S. Distributor: Rights Avilable
Cast: Gerard Lanvin, Joey Starr, Alice Taglioni, Philippe Nahon
The very busy Belgian director Fabrice Du Welz makes our 2014 list twice (see the number 20 position), and this second entry feels like more of departure for the director. An cop thriller from a first time screenwriter, we’re curious to see Welz’s union with Joey Starr, along with uniting once more with the generally terrifying Philippe Nahon.
Gist: Weapon supervisor and shooting instructor for National Police, Vincent Milès is an expert in combat shooting. He’s only 25 and the elites from all around the globe are courting him. Against all odds, he refuses to join the prestigious field squads. His life takes a crucial turn when he meets Milo Cardena, a mysterious field agent, who drags him...
- 2/26/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Une autre vie is almost a “theoretical” film, probably one of the few really successful “film as theory” pieces of Locarno's International Competition selection. It brilliantly and bravely face the possibility of being misunderstood. Possibly deceptive for those who would expect the comforts of the “regular love story” it apparently advertises, the episodes as well as the features of the characters are actually deliberately predictable, as they are based on some of the basic schemes of photo-story's (roman-photo, fotoromanzo) “sentimental” fiction and melodrama.
A rich girl (and a successful classical pianist) going through a personal breakdown falls in love with a working class man. He has a partner (a working class orphaned girl) who, after having kept the affair secret, he eventually decides to leave for the rich girl (meeting the opposition of the pianist’s brother, a frustrated artist who became her half greedy half attentive manager). The “poor girl” discovers the affair,...
A rich girl (and a successful classical pianist) going through a personal breakdown falls in love with a working class man. He has a partner (a working class orphaned girl) who, after having kept the affair secret, he eventually decides to leave for the rich girl (meeting the opposition of the pianist’s brother, a frustrated artist who became her half greedy half attentive manager). The “poor girl” discovers the affair,...
- 8/14/2013
- by Marie-Pierre Duhamel
- MUBI
I don’t’ share the popular opinion that 2012 has been a terrible year in film. It hasn’t been as strong as previous years but 2012 gave us such gems as Holy Motors, The Master, Berberian Sound Studio, Tabu, Skyfall and Moonrise Kingdom, to name a few. As with every year, I thought it appropriate to highlight some of the year’s most memorable individual moments, scenes, and sequences, from movies that may or may not have made our individual year-end lists. Which is no small feat considering just how insane the release calendar has become.
We are keeping out credit sequences since we feel it is an art form in itself.
Honourable Mentions:
The Deep Blue Sea – The underground flashback.
Oslo, August 31st – The cafe scene.
Miss Bala – The extended take during the shoot out .
Universal Solider 4 – The opening shotgun sequence.
Universal Solider 4 – The fight in the sport retail store.
We are keeping out credit sequences since we feel it is an art form in itself.
Honourable Mentions:
The Deep Blue Sea – The underground flashback.
Oslo, August 31st – The cafe scene.
Miss Bala – The extended take during the shoot out .
Universal Solider 4 – The opening shotgun sequence.
Universal Solider 4 – The fight in the sport retail store.
- 12/18/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
French-Martinican rapper/actor Didier Morville (aka Joeystarr) stars in this romantic comedy titled Max, which follows the story of a young girl who sets her single father up with a prostitute, as, as you' expect, things get a bit complicated. The film co-stars Mathilde Seigner, Jean Pierre Marielle and Shana Castera, and is set for release in France on January 23, 2013. The title of this post references the fact that Joeystarr's casting in a rom-com is apparently antithetical to his usual M.O., and is taking many in France by surprise, given what I understand to be a usual harder edge to him. His said to be "violent" past is littered with a...
- 12/3/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
★★★☆☆ Maïwenn writes, stars and directs Polisse (2011), a provocative drama centred upon a Parisian Child Protection Unit, exploring the team members' various lives and relationships inside and outside of work. Having spent time observing real Cpu officers, Maïwenn's script is reputedly based on genuine conversations and cases, and herself adopts a similar position in this film as a photographer assigned to capture the task-force at work. Yet her role as naive newcomer Melissa is relatively small, with the love story between her character and hardened professional Fred (rap star Didier Morville, aka Joeystarr) does, at times, feel almost wholly irrelevant.
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- 10/30/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Polisse
Review by Joe Cronin
Stars: Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Maiwenn | Written by Maiwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot | Directed by Maiwenn
The documentary style Polisse is a gritty whirlwind of a film that tackles its harrowing subject matter head on. ‘Polisse’, a play on the word ‘Police’ is spelt this way to replicate a child’s take on the word. Sadly, the film itself is also a reflection of the lives of hundreds of children across France. Despite featuring fictitious characters that sometimes come across as crude caricatures, the subject matter is real.
The film was co-written by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot and documents day-to-day cases of the Parisian Child Protection unit. Shot in a ‘handy-cam’ style that manages not to become irritating, the film is a product of Maiwenn spending months living with a Cpu unit, slowly becoming ingrained in their lives. Despite often being compared to The Wire,...
Review by Joe Cronin
Stars: Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Maiwenn | Written by Maiwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot | Directed by Maiwenn
The documentary style Polisse is a gritty whirlwind of a film that tackles its harrowing subject matter head on. ‘Polisse’, a play on the word ‘Police’ is spelt this way to replicate a child’s take on the word. Sadly, the film itself is also a reflection of the lives of hundreds of children across France. Despite featuring fictitious characters that sometimes come across as crude caricatures, the subject matter is real.
The film was co-written by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot and documents day-to-day cases of the Parisian Child Protection unit. Shot in a ‘handy-cam’ style that manages not to become irritating, the film is a product of Maiwenn spending months living with a Cpu unit, slowly becoming ingrained in their lives. Despite often being compared to The Wire,...
- 10/23/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Chicago – “Sleepless Night” is a relentless thriller about corrupt cops, a kidnapping, a very bad drug deal, and a French nightclub filled with innocent bystanders. The majority of this accomplished action flick takes place in one location on one crazy night and the result is a more intense, visceral experience than a vast majority of the Hollywood blockbusters you could see this Summer movie season.
A corrupt cop named Vincent steals a bag filled with cocaine from a dangerous crime lord in the opening scene of “Sleepless Night” and not only does our protagonist get stabbed but someone gets shot. Before he can even really patch the wound in his gut, his son Thomas is kidnapped and held by the man whose drugs he lifted. There’s a deal that needs to go down. Bring the drugs to the club, trade them for his loved one, and walk away.
Chicago – “Sleepless Night” is a relentless thriller about corrupt cops, a kidnapping, a very bad drug deal, and a French nightclub filled with innocent bystanders. The majority of this accomplished action flick takes place in one location on one crazy night and the result is a more intense, visceral experience than a vast majority of the Hollywood blockbusters you could see this Summer movie season.
A corrupt cop named Vincent steals a bag filled with cocaine from a dangerous crime lord in the opening scene of “Sleepless Night” and not only does our protagonist get stabbed but someone gets shot. Before he can even really patch the wound in his gut, his son Thomas is kidnapped and held by the man whose drugs he lifted. There’s a deal that needs to go down. Bring the drugs to the club, trade them for his loved one, and walk away.
- 7/27/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Rock Of Ages (12A)
(Adam Shankman, 2012, Us) Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones. 123 mins
Doing for 1980s hair metal what Mamma Mia! did for Abba, this glossy musical gives you the broad pleasures of pantomime rather than rock'n'roll danger, with theatrical star turns and a playlist of power ballads hung around an archetypal tale of a smalltown girl and a wannabe rock star boy on La's Sunset Strip. You can stop believin' now.
Cosmopolis (15)
(David Cronenberg, 2012, Fra/Can/Por/Ita) Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon. 109 mins
Don De Lillo's prescient novella makes for a cool Manhattan odyssey, centred on Pattinson's jaded banker and the Occupy zeitgeist.
Polisse (15)
(Maïwenn, 2011, Fra) Karin Viard, Joey Starr, Marina Foïs. 128 mins
A Wire-like approach to a French child protection unit reaps dividends for this docu-style procedural.
Red Lights (15)
(Rodrigo Cortés, 2012, Us/Spa) Cillian Murphy, Robert De Niro,...
(Adam Shankman, 2012, Us) Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Catherine Zeta-Jones. 123 mins
Doing for 1980s hair metal what Mamma Mia! did for Abba, this glossy musical gives you the broad pleasures of pantomime rather than rock'n'roll danger, with theatrical star turns and a playlist of power ballads hung around an archetypal tale of a smalltown girl and a wannabe rock star boy on La's Sunset Strip. You can stop believin' now.
Cosmopolis (15)
(David Cronenberg, 2012, Fra/Can/Por/Ita) Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Sarah Gadon. 109 mins
Don De Lillo's prescient novella makes for a cool Manhattan odyssey, centred on Pattinson's jaded banker and the Occupy zeitgeist.
Polisse (15)
(Maïwenn, 2011, Fra) Karin Viard, Joey Starr, Marina Foïs. 128 mins
A Wire-like approach to a French child protection unit reaps dividends for this docu-style procedural.
Red Lights (15)
(Rodrigo Cortés, 2012, Us/Spa) Cillian Murphy, Robert De Niro,...
- 6/15/2012
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
It’s like the French version of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, except every case is one that would send Detective Elliot Stabler totally mental and inspire him to punch a wall or two. For these are the tales of the Paris police service’s Child Protection Unit, and every single case is unutterably sad and desperate, and impacts this team of dedicated officers in ways even they never quite expect. Except, too, that this isn’t a TV series, it’s a single two-hour movie... which is its biggest flaw. There’s a whole season’s worth of cop angst, child horror, and general soap opera crammed into far too short a running time for everything it hopes to achieve. Most objectionable is the character of the photographer hired by the government to document the unit’s work. Played by actress Maiwenn (Switchblade Romance), she feels shoehorned into the action,...
- 6/15/2012
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Polisse the Jury Prize winner at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, is based on true stories of the Paris police division known as Cpu (Child Protection Unit) as they investigate disturbing cases of child abuse, both physical and sexual. It has no central story, but several plot threads that run throughout, more a fly-on-the-wall look at a group of law enforcers doing their demanding, distasteful, and often mundane jobs than any type of standard cop thriller. It’s a good, engrossing film that effectively weaves together a series of real life “small”. crimes; an Algerian man wants to sell his 14-year old daughter’s virginity, a gymnastics teacher is grilled about fondling one of his students in a bathroom stall, a band of Romanian pickpockets is busted. There are no shoot-outs, car chases or large-scale action sequences in Polisse (though a jolting suicide comes out of nowhere). This is...
- 6/15/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Polisse is a film easier to admire for what it aims to do rather than what it actually pulls off. The Cannes Jury Prize-winner is an extremely uncomfortable experience from first minute to last, and one that, despite tending to go a little overboard, feels for the most part authentic and well-researched.
Writer, director and co-star Maïwen has concocted a concertina of unpleasantly riveting accounts of abuse, as we follow officers from the Child Protection Unit on their daily beat, arresting and questioning perps. We feel the pressures acting on them personally and professionally, amid a murky political climate, where police respect is at an all-time low, and the bureaucracy dictates a counter-productive method of case management and crime-solving.
At home, we observe the draining effect of their difficult work, whether it’s a strained marriage, intimacy issues or alcoholism. Some of it is admittedly garden variety soap opera fodder,...
Polisse is a film easier to admire for what it aims to do rather than what it actually pulls off. The Cannes Jury Prize-winner is an extremely uncomfortable experience from first minute to last, and one that, despite tending to go a little overboard, feels for the most part authentic and well-researched.
Writer, director and co-star Maïwen has concocted a concertina of unpleasantly riveting accounts of abuse, as we follow officers from the Child Protection Unit on their daily beat, arresting and questioning perps. We feel the pressures acting on them personally and professionally, amid a murky political climate, where police respect is at an all-time low, and the bureaucracy dictates a counter-productive method of case management and crime-solving.
At home, we observe the draining effect of their difficult work, whether it’s a strained marriage, intimacy issues or alcoholism. Some of it is admittedly garden variety soap opera fodder,...
- 6/13/2012
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
Polisse
Directed by: Maïwenn
Cast: Karin Viard, Maïwenn, Joeystarr, Frédéric Pierrot, Marina Fois, Emmanuelle Bercot, Karole Rocher
Running Time: 2 hrs 7 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: May 25, 2012 (Limited and VOD)
Plot: An ensemble drama about the many cases dealt with by Paris’ Child Protection Unit, and the many employees whose personal lives are disturbed by their work.
Who’S It For?: Polisse demands a highly attentive audience. This movie is for those who are fans of police dramas, and also films like Traffic.
Overall
In Polisse, Paris’ Cpu is made up of average looking middle-aged men and women who have some problems of their own (bad marriages, extreme stress, self-loathing). When they go to work they deal with cases of abuse and child endangerment that are bad, really bad, or disgustingly ugly, and then try to not let that cut into the amount they joke around when hanging out with...
Directed by: Maïwenn
Cast: Karin Viard, Maïwenn, Joeystarr, Frédéric Pierrot, Marina Fois, Emmanuelle Bercot, Karole Rocher
Running Time: 2 hrs 7 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: May 25, 2012 (Limited and VOD)
Plot: An ensemble drama about the many cases dealt with by Paris’ Child Protection Unit, and the many employees whose personal lives are disturbed by their work.
Who’S It For?: Polisse demands a highly attentive audience. This movie is for those who are fans of police dramas, and also films like Traffic.
Overall
In Polisse, Paris’ Cpu is made up of average looking middle-aged men and women who have some problems of their own (bad marriages, extreme stress, self-loathing). When they go to work they deal with cases of abuse and child endangerment that are bad, really bad, or disgustingly ugly, and then try to not let that cut into the amount they joke around when hanging out with...
- 6/8/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Described as being like a whole season of The Wire packed into a single film, crime drama Polisse hits UK cinemas on June 15.
A new UK poster has now been released for the film, which is helmed by the French actress-director Maiwenn (pictured right).
Shadow Dancer is produced by Melissa Parmenter and Michael Winterbottom and scripted by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot.
Maiwenn - whose full name is Maiwenn Le Besco and who played the alien opera singer in The Fifth Element - also appears in the film as part of a cast that includes Karin Viard, Joey Starr and Marina Fois.
The trailer and synopsis are also included below.
Here's the official synopsis:
The daily grind for the police officers of the Child Protection Unit - taking in child molesters, busting underage pickpockets and chewing over relationship issues at lunch; interrogating abusive parents, taking statements from children, confronting the excesses of teen sexuality,...
A new UK poster has now been released for the film, which is helmed by the French actress-director Maiwenn (pictured right).
Shadow Dancer is produced by Melissa Parmenter and Michael Winterbottom and scripted by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot.
Maiwenn - whose full name is Maiwenn Le Besco and who played the alien opera singer in The Fifth Element - also appears in the film as part of a cast that includes Karin Viard, Joey Starr and Marina Fois.
The trailer and synopsis are also included below.
Here's the official synopsis:
The daily grind for the police officers of the Child Protection Unit - taking in child molesters, busting underage pickpockets and chewing over relationship issues at lunch; interrogating abusive parents, taking statements from children, confronting the excesses of teen sexuality,...
- 6/8/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Title: Polisse Director: Maiwenn Le Besco Starring: Frederic Pierrot, Marina Fois, Karin Viard, Emmanuelle Bercot, Joeystarr, Maiwenn, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Karole Rocher, Riccardo Scamarcio Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, “Polisse” is a French cop drama that comes across as something of a cinematic turducken — filling, yes, but also rather unnaturally stuffed to the breaking point with different and sometimes at odds tastes. Directed and co-written by Maiwenn (who typically eschews her surname, Le Besco), the movie connects fitfully through its sheer urgency — it’s a work of deep feeling. Vacuuming out the exotic benefit of its foreign film presentation, however, many arthouse patrons [ Read More ]...
- 5/19/2012
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
After playing the victim in '70s horror throwback "High Tension" and directing the comparatively light dramedy "Actress' Ball," French thespian/filmmaker Maïwenn yearned for something a bit more serious. So what better topic to tackle than one focusing on France's Child Protection Unit (Cpu)?
Sporting a large cast of characters (including the director and French rapper Joey Starr), "Polisse" shows the ins-and-outs of the police division that handles child welfare, from physical, sexual, and mental abuse to teen crimes. The filmmaker uses real incidents as a basis for the cases the officers deal with, while simultaneously delving into their personal lives, revealing how their job affects their familial relationships.
Regardless of its rather plotless structure, "Polisse" chugs along well, with enough people to follow, and conflicts to focus on, that things stay consistently interesting. We sat down with the director and got some more information regarding her process, the...
Sporting a large cast of characters (including the director and French rapper Joey Starr), "Polisse" shows the ins-and-outs of the police division that handles child welfare, from physical, sexual, and mental abuse to teen crimes. The filmmaker uses real incidents as a basis for the cases the officers deal with, while simultaneously delving into their personal lives, revealing how their job affects their familial relationships.
Regardless of its rather plotless structure, "Polisse" chugs along well, with enough people to follow, and conflicts to focus on, that things stay consistently interesting. We sat down with the director and got some more information regarding her process, the...
- 5/17/2012
- by Christopher Bell
- The Playlist
The feature-length French police procedural Polisse, from director/writer Maïwenn, has been garnering acclaim since 2011, when it took home the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, it received an impressive 13 César Award nominations; including a Best Supporting Actor nod to rapper/actor Joeystarr. Described as a film which "follows the daily lives of a tight-knit team of men and women working in the Child Protection Unit of the Parisian police", Polisse could easily be dismissed as a big-screen French-version of Law & Order:svu. But after watching the film's trailer, and an explosive clip that feature's Joeystarr's...
- 5/17/2012
- by Emmanuel Akitobi
- ShadowAndAct
Maiwenn’s Docudrama Packs an Emotional Wallop
French actress, model, and director Maiwenn’s latest film, Polisse opens with a disclaimer that the film is based on actual scenarios experienced by the Parisian Cpu (Child Protection Unit). Having assembled some of France’s most versatile performers (in particular, some very underrated actresses), she has created an emotionally visceral experience that definitely won’t fail to leave an impression, whether you appreciate it or not.
The film begins as a fast paced drama about the daily routine of the Cpu. As we watch the unit arresting pedophiles, busting pickpockets, chasing after abusive mothers, interrogating teachers, victimized children, and homeless parents, we get a character study of each member of the Cpu. The extremely volatile Fred (Joey Starr) is in the midst of separating from his damaged relationship with his daughter’s mother; Nadine (Karin Viard) is divorcing her adulterous husband, egged...
French actress, model, and director Maiwenn’s latest film, Polisse opens with a disclaimer that the film is based on actual scenarios experienced by the Parisian Cpu (Child Protection Unit). Having assembled some of France’s most versatile performers (in particular, some very underrated actresses), she has created an emotionally visceral experience that definitely won’t fail to leave an impression, whether you appreciate it or not.
The film begins as a fast paced drama about the daily routine of the Cpu. As we watch the unit arresting pedophiles, busting pickpockets, chasing after abusive mothers, interrogating teachers, victimized children, and homeless parents, we get a character study of each member of the Cpu. The extremely volatile Fred (Joey Starr) is in the midst of separating from his damaged relationship with his daughter’s mother; Nadine (Karin Viard) is divorcing her adulterous husband, egged...
- 5/14/2012
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Polisse
Review by Joe Cronin
Stars: Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Maiwenn | Written by Maiwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot | Directed by Maiwenn
The documentary style Polisse is a gritty whirlwind of a film that tackles its harrowing subject matter head on. ‘Polisse’, a play on the word ‘Police’ is spelt this way to replicate a child’s take on the word. Sadly, the film itself is also a reflection of the lives of hundreds of children across France. Despite featuring fictitious characters that sometimes come across as crude caricatures, the subject matter is real.
The film was co-written by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot and documents day-to-day cases of the Parisian Child Protection unit. Shot in a ‘handy-cam’ style that manages not to become irritating, the film is a product of Maiwenn spending months living with a Cpu unit, slowly becoming ingrained in their lives. Despite often being compared to The Wire,...
Review by Joe Cronin
Stars: Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Maiwenn | Written by Maiwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot | Directed by Maiwenn
The documentary style Polisse is a gritty whirlwind of a film that tackles its harrowing subject matter head on. ‘Polisse’, a play on the word ‘Police’ is spelt this way to replicate a child’s take on the word. Sadly, the film itself is also a reflection of the lives of hundreds of children across France. Despite featuring fictitious characters that sometimes come across as crude caricatures, the subject matter is real.
The film was co-written by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot and documents day-to-day cases of the Parisian Child Protection unit. Shot in a ‘handy-cam’ style that manages not to become irritating, the film is a product of Maiwenn spending months living with a Cpu unit, slowly becoming ingrained in their lives. Despite often being compared to The Wire,...
- 5/10/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Monthly Movie Preview – May 2012
Just like its slightly more competent sibling “Award Season,” the fatter movie season known as “Summer Movie Season” returns to roost every year to perpetuate the love for all of the wacky stories it can spin. Some of the stories are good, and some are laughably not so much. Usually, these stories are based off other stories, and sometimes these stories are based of other stories which started with one story. Most unsurprisingly, movies like Men in Black 3 pop up, even though no one asked for it in the first place.
Summer 2K12 is upon us, people of the internet, and there is much to be excited for. With a month that kicks off with The Avengers, and then features titles like Battleship, The Dictator, and yes, Men in Black 3, May is certainly going to be summer movie-tastic, and then some. And then, some more.
Just like its slightly more competent sibling “Award Season,” the fatter movie season known as “Summer Movie Season” returns to roost every year to perpetuate the love for all of the wacky stories it can spin. Some of the stories are good, and some are laughably not so much. Usually, these stories are based off other stories, and sometimes these stories are based of other stories which started with one story. Most unsurprisingly, movies like Men in Black 3 pop up, even though no one asked for it in the first place.
Summer 2K12 is upon us, people of the internet, and there is much to be excited for. With a month that kicks off with The Avengers, and then features titles like Battleship, The Dictator, and yes, Men in Black 3, May is certainly going to be summer movie-tastic, and then some. And then, some more.
- 5/4/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
Title: Polisse Sundance Selects Reviewed for Shockya by Harvey Karten Grade: B+ Director: Maïwenn Screenwriter: Maïwenn, Emmanuelle Bercot Cast: Karin Viard, Joey Starr, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Maïwenn, Karole Rocher Screened at: Broadway, NYC, 4/10/12 Opens: May 18, 2012 When Alain Attal, the director of “Polisse,” states that “the subject matter was totally new and had never been approached in film,” he knows whereof he speaks. “Polisse” is a cop drama like no other. Maïwenn, who takes a major role, directs and co-wrote the script with Emmanuelle Bercot, with a focus on a segment of the Paris police. The organization is known as Cpu, or Children’s Protection Unit, an ensemble [ Read More ]...
- 4/11/2012
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
At the end of each month, the Sound On Sight staff will band together to write an article about their favourite scenes in films released. Here are our favourite scenes from the month of February.
Click here to see January’s releases
Click here to see February’s releases
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia – Opening Scene
Nuri Bilge Ceylan is without a doubt one of the most exciting directors on the international scene. His sixth feature, Once Upon A Time In Anatolia won the Grand Prize at Cannes last year and it is easy to see why. This metaphysical road movie about life, death and the limits of knowledge opens with a brief prologue, a slow, steady out of focus zoom through a service station’s dirty window, eventually shifting into focus revealing a room where three guys eat, drink and converse. It seems like a simple setup but...
Click here to see January’s releases
Click here to see February’s releases
Once Upon A Time In Anatolia – Opening Scene
Nuri Bilge Ceylan is without a doubt one of the most exciting directors on the international scene. His sixth feature, Once Upon A Time In Anatolia won the Grand Prize at Cannes last year and it is easy to see why. This metaphysical road movie about life, death and the limits of knowledge opens with a brief prologue, a slow, steady out of focus zoom through a service station’s dirty window, eventually shifting into focus revealing a room where three guys eat, drink and converse. It seems like a simple setup but...
- 4/5/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Polisse
Directed by Maïwenn
Written by Maïwenn & Emmanuelle Bercot
France, 2011
The daily routine for the officers of the Police Department’s Juvenile Protection Unit in Paris is interrupted with the arrival of a photographer assigned to document the squad. That’s the bare-bones setup for Polisse, a French drama film written, directed by, and starring artist Maïwenn.
We are told in an opening title card that the film is based on real events. Inspired by a documentary about the Child Protection Unit, Maïwenn asked permission to follow the officers on and off the job, in order to write an accurate portrayal of the men and women involved. All the cases in the screenplay were based either on things the director had witnessed during her time with the unit or stories told to her by them.
The movie depicts several different criminal cases, with the sordid topics ranging broadly from physical...
Directed by Maïwenn
Written by Maïwenn & Emmanuelle Bercot
France, 2011
The daily routine for the officers of the Police Department’s Juvenile Protection Unit in Paris is interrupted with the arrival of a photographer assigned to document the squad. That’s the bare-bones setup for Polisse, a French drama film written, directed by, and starring artist Maïwenn.
We are told in an opening title card that the film is based on real events. Inspired by a documentary about the Child Protection Unit, Maïwenn asked permission to follow the officers on and off the job, in order to write an accurate portrayal of the men and women involved. All the cases in the screenplay were based either on things the director had witnessed during her time with the unit or stories told to her by them.
The movie depicts several different criminal cases, with the sordid topics ranging broadly from physical...
- 3/14/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Bérénice Bejo as Peppy Miller in Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius, A Separation: César Winners Pt.1 Best Actor Sami Bouajila, Omar m'a tuer / Omar Killed Me François Cluzet, Intouchables / Untouchable Jean Dujardin, The Artist Olivier Gourmet, L'exercice de l'État / The Minister Denis Podalydes, La conquête / The Conquest * Omar Sy, Intouchables / Untouchable Philippe Torreton, Présumé coupable / Guilty Best Actress Ariane Asquaride, Les neiges du Kilimanjaro / The Snows of Kilimanjaro * Bérénice Bejo, The Artist Leila Bekhti, La Source des femmes / The Source Valérie Donzelli, La guerre est déclarée / Declaration of War Marina Foïs, Polisse Marie Gilain, Toutes nos envies / All Our Desires Karin Viard, Polisse Best Supporting Actor * Michel Blanc, L'exercice de l'État / The Minister Nicolas Duvauchelle, Polisse Joey Starr, Polisse Bernard Lecoq, La conquête / The Conquest Frédéric Pierrot, Polisse Best Supporting Actress Zabou Breitman, L'exercice de l'État / The Minister Anne Le Ny, Intouchables / Untouchable Noémie Lvovsky, L'Apollonide,...
- 2/25/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Bérénice Bejo, Malcolm McDowell, The Artist The Artist, Polisse, Intouchables: César Nominations Pt.1 Best Actor Sami Bouajila, Omar m'a tuer / Omar Killed Me François Cluzet, Intouchables / Untouchable Jean Dujardin, The Artist Olivier Gourmet, L'exercice de l'État / The Minister Denis Podalydes, La conquête / The Conquest Omar Sy, Intouchables / Untouchable Philippe Torreton, Présumé coupable / Guilty Best Actress Ariane Asquaride, Les neiges du Kilimanjaro / The Snows of Kilimanjaro Bérénice Bejo, The Artist Leila Bekhti, La Source des femmes / The Source Valérie Donzelli, La guerre est déclarée / Declaration of War Marina Foïs, Polisse Marie Gilain, Toutes nos envies / All Our Desires Karin Viard, Polisse Best Supporting Actor Michel Blanc, L'exercice de l'État / The Minister Nicolas Duvauchelle, Polisse Joey Starr, Polisse Bernard Lecoq, La conquête / The Conquest Frédéric Pierrot, Polisse Best Supporting Actress Zabou Breitman, L'exercice de l'État / The Minister Anne Le Ny, Intouchables / Untouchable Noémie Lvovsky, L'Apollonide, souvenirs de la maison close / House of Tolerance Carmen Maura,...
- 2/21/2012
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
Omar Sy, Maïwenn Best Film L'Apollonide – Souvenirs de la maison close / House of Tolerance by Bertrand Bonello * The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius L'Exercice de l'État by Pierre Schoeller Le Havre by Aki Kaurismaki Intouchables / Untouchable by Eric Toledano, Olivier Nakache Best Director Bertrand Bonello for House of Tolerance Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist Aki Kaurismaki for Le Havre * Maiwenn for Polisse Pierre Schoeller for L'Exercice de l'État Best Actress * Bérénice Bejo in The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni in Les Bien-Aimés / Beloved by Christophe Honoré Valérie Donzelli in La Guerre est déclarée / Declaration of War by Valérie Donzelli Marina Fois, Karin Viard in Polisse by Maïwenn Clotilde Hesme in Angèle et Tony / Angèle and Tony d'Alix Delaporte Best Actor Jean Dujardin in The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius Olivier Gourmet in L'Exercice de l'État by Pierre Schoeller Joey Starr in Polisse by Maïwenn * Omar Sy in Untouchable d'Eric Toledano,...
- 1/16/2012
- by Steve Montgomery
- Alt Film Guide
House of Tolerance, The Artist, and the other nominations for the 2012 Prix Lumière Awards have been announced. The 17th Annual Prix Lumière Awards are “The Price of Enlightenment international criticism, sometimes also called Enlightenment Trophies” and were “created by leading producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier and U.S. journalist Edward Behr to honor French-language cinema from France and abroad. 200 journalists (international media correspondents in Paris) from around 50 countries vote each year to award their own prizes to members of the French film industry.” This year’s ceremony “will take place on Friday, January 13, 2012.”
The full listing of the 2012 Prix Lumière Awards nominations is below.
Best Film
L’Apollonide, souvenirs de la maison close (House of Tolerance), Bertrand Bonello
The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
L’exercice de l’Etat (The Minister), Pierre Schoeller
Le Havre, Aki Kaurismäki
Intouchables, Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache
Best Foreign Film in French
Curling, Denis Cote, Canada
Et maintenant,...
The full listing of the 2012 Prix Lumière Awards nominations is below.
Best Film
L’Apollonide, souvenirs de la maison close (House of Tolerance), Bertrand Bonello
The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
L’exercice de l’Etat (The Minister), Pierre Schoeller
Le Havre, Aki Kaurismäki
Intouchables, Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache
Best Foreign Film in French
Curling, Denis Cote, Canada
Et maintenant,...
- 12/21/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
By Sean O’Connell
Hollywoodnews.com: “Sleepless Night” and “The Raid” were the two breakout hits from this year’s Midnight Madness program at the Toronto International Film Festival. Both were so popular, they’ve already triggered American remakes. But you want to know when you can see the originals, right? Of course.
So, good news. Tribeca Film announced today that it has acquired all U.S. rights to “Sleepless Night,” which will be released in 2012 on VOD and theatrically by Tribeca Film. Warner Bros. recently acquired the English-language remake rights to the film, which is directed by Frédéric Jardin.
“I am thrilled and honored to work with Tribeca for the North American release of Sleepless Night,” Jardin said. “It’s a superb opportunity for my film.”
From the release:
Sleepless Night tells the story of Vincent, a respected and dedicated police officer, or so it seems. After stealing a...
Hollywoodnews.com: “Sleepless Night” and “The Raid” were the two breakout hits from this year’s Midnight Madness program at the Toronto International Film Festival. Both were so popular, they’ve already triggered American remakes. But you want to know when you can see the originals, right? Of course.
So, good news. Tribeca Film announced today that it has acquired all U.S. rights to “Sleepless Night,” which will be released in 2012 on VOD and theatrically by Tribeca Film. Warner Bros. recently acquired the English-language remake rights to the film, which is directed by Frédéric Jardin.
“I am thrilled and honored to work with Tribeca for the North American release of Sleepless Night,” Jardin said. “It’s a superb opportunity for my film.”
From the release:
Sleepless Night tells the story of Vincent, a respected and dedicated police officer, or so it seems. After stealing a...
- 11/4/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Frederic Jardin's action thriller Sleepless Night goes to Tribeca Film. Warners has a remake plans. The French film which made its premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, will find release in theaters next year, as well as get a VOD release. Starring in Sleepless Night (a.k.a. Nuit blanche) which is produced by Marco Cherqui and Lauranne Bourrachot, are Tomer Sisley, Joey Starr, Julien Boisselier, Serge Riaboukine and Laurent Stocker. Jardin wrote the script with Nicolas Saada and Olivier Douyere which follows a Paris cop who, after stealing a large haul of cocaine, races through a packed nightclub, corrupt cops as well as drug dealers, and corrupt cops...
- 11/4/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Frederic Jardin's action thriller Sleepless Night goes to Tribeca Film. Warners has a remake plans. The French film which made its premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, will find release in theaters next year, as well as get a VOD release. Starring in Sleepless Night (a.k.a. Nuit blanche) which is produced by Marco Cherqui and Lauranne Bourrachot, are Tomer Sisley, Joey Starr, Julien Boisselier, Serge Riaboukine and Laurent Stocker. Jardin wrote the script with Nicolas Saada and Olivier Douyere which follows a Paris cop who, after stealing a large haul of cocaine, races through a packed nightclub, corrupt cops as well as drug dealers, and corrupt cops...
- 11/4/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Director: Frédéric Jardin Writer: Nicolas Saada Starring: Tomer Sisley, Joey Starr, Julien Boisselier, Serge Riaboukine, Laurent Stocker, Samy Seghir, Dominique Bettenfeld, Adel Bencherif, Birol Ünel, Lizzie Brocheré In the time span of a brutally intense 24 hours -- including a sleepless night for everyone involved in the film -- director Frédéric Jardin's Sleepless Night begins with a drug heist gone horribly awry and snowballs into a relentless powerhouse of non-stop action from that point onward. In a tale in which there are very few good guys and countless shades of baddies, it is difficult to surmise where the protagonist, Vincent (Tomer Sisley), falls. As fate would have it, Vincent possesses a bag of cocaine that was stolen from two cronies employed by a local drug lord named Marciano (Serge Riaboukine). Marciano therefore kidnaps Vincent's son and offers Vincent a trade -- the boy for the cocaine. Left with no other choice,...
- 9/24/2011
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Sleepless Night is a fitting title for Frederic Jardin’s adrenaline-pumping film about a detective and father who puts everything on the line in the name of doing what’s right. The film is an exciting, non-stop, action/suspense flick that begins by jumping right into the guts of the situation, pulling the audience into the beef of the adventure within the first 30 minutes. From here, Sleepless Night is a fast-paced, kinetically-driven story that builds momentum, upon momentum, upon even more momentum until the very last moment, climaxing at the precise point in the story where one minute more would have been too much. Sleepless Night is the best French film of its type since Jcvd (2008).
When Vincent (Tomer Sisley) appears to be a cop gone bad, pulling what seems to be a heist on a local crime boss in the name of desperation for his family, we’re inclined...
When Vincent (Tomer Sisley) appears to be a cop gone bad, pulling what seems to be a heist on a local crime boss in the name of desperation for his family, we’re inclined...
- 9/23/2011
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Sleepless Night / Nuit Blanche Trailer. Frédéric Jardin‘s Sleepless Night / Nuit Blanche (2011) movie trailer stars Tomer Sisley, Birol Unel, Laurent Demianoff, Dean Constantin Gaigani, and Joey Starr. Sleepless Night / Nuit Blanche‘s plot synopsis: “Vincent (Tomer Sisley) is a police lieutenant who also does some side work as a drug mule. A drop-off goes bad and the coke gets stuck with Vincent. The next day his son is kidnapped by the thug Jose Marciano (Serge Riaboukine) who also happens to own a massive nightclub. Going to retrieve his son, a pair of cops are also on his tail to stir things up.”
I like the trailer but it gives away everything, it is basically a video synopsis of the entire film. This seems more like a sales trailer than a theatrical movie trailer. It could also be a complete lack of common sense. The film does look good though.
Watch...
I like the trailer but it gives away everything, it is basically a video synopsis of the entire film. This seems more like a sales trailer than a theatrical movie trailer. It could also be a complete lack of common sense. The film does look good though.
Watch...
- 9/13/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Karin Viard, Joey Starr and Marina Fois in Polisse
It's a nice surprise to see a pair of films I enjoyed at Cannes find themselves domestic distribution beginning with Maiwenn's Jury Prize-winning Polisse, a film I referred to as "a fast-paced, tragic, touching, emotional and occasionally hilarious look at the French police's Child Protective Unit (Cpu)." Outside of most French film critics, I was one of the few critics to enjoy it as much as I did, but at least now there's an opportunity for stateside viewers to give it a look as Sundance Selects will be distributing it. You can read my full review of the film right here.
Selects also picked up a pair of films I did not see, the first being Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's The Kid with a Bike, a film I heard a lot about and tied with Nuri Bilge Ceylan's...
It's a nice surprise to see a pair of films I enjoyed at Cannes find themselves domestic distribution beginning with Maiwenn's Jury Prize-winning Polisse, a film I referred to as "a fast-paced, tragic, touching, emotional and occasionally hilarious look at the French police's Child Protective Unit (Cpu)." Outside of most French film critics, I was one of the few critics to enjoy it as much as I did, but at least now there's an opportunity for stateside viewers to give it a look as Sundance Selects will be distributing it. You can read my full review of the film right here.
Selects also picked up a pair of films I did not see, the first being Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne's The Kid with a Bike, a film I heard a lot about and tied with Nuri Bilge Ceylan's...
- 5/23/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Writer, director and actor Maiwenn’s new film, Polisse, is a dramatic feature about a Parisian Police Child Protection Unit that absorbs one in its often difficult and upsetting subject matter but also struggles with its challenging tone. Weaving a variety of overlapping stories together, we are told in an opening title card that these are based on real events, Maiwenn chooses to guide us through the professional and private chaos of the Cpu team via a new addition to the team, a photographer named Melissa (played by Maiwenn herself).
Melissa is a near silent observer for the first half of the film but after fellow team member Fred (Joey Starr) draws her real character out we begin to see her fragmented private life, involving an almost absurdly contrived family set-up, and she (literally) begins to let her hair down. This is not a film about Melissa though, despite her...
Melissa is a near silent observer for the first half of the film but after fellow team member Fred (Joey Starr) draws her real character out we begin to see her fragmented private life, involving an almost absurdly contrived family set-up, and she (literally) begins to let her hair down. This is not a film about Melissa though, despite her...
- 5/19/2011
- by Craig Skinner
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Updated through 5/17.
Let's note right off the top, first, that the title's derived from the director's misspelling of "Police" and that the final "e" has been dropped for the English-language version. And second, that critics are split. We'll start with pan but work our way up.
"Polisse, a self-important French police procedural that feigns complexity while relishing in cliché, could very well be the worst film I see at Cannes this year," predicts Glenn Heath Jr at the House Next Door. "Supposedly based on the true stories of the Parisian Child Protective Unit, director Maïwenn Le Besco's film abrasively documents the professional and personal lives of the special police force tasked with arresting those who prey on the young…. As a social mosaic, Polisse is an insulting simplification of truly horrific issues like child rape and sex trade."
More predictions, these from Jonathan Romney in Screen: "It should flourish in France,...
Let's note right off the top, first, that the title's derived from the director's misspelling of "Police" and that the final "e" has been dropped for the English-language version. And second, that critics are split. We'll start with pan but work our way up.
"Polisse, a self-important French police procedural that feigns complexity while relishing in cliché, could very well be the worst film I see at Cannes this year," predicts Glenn Heath Jr at the House Next Door. "Supposedly based on the true stories of the Parisian Child Protective Unit, director Maïwenn Le Besco's film abrasively documents the professional and personal lives of the special police force tasked with arresting those who prey on the young…. As a social mosaic, Polisse is an insulting simplification of truly horrific issues like child rape and sex trade."
More predictions, these from Jonathan Romney in Screen: "It should flourish in France,...
- 5/17/2011
- MUBI
This year’s Cannes competition line-up includes four films directed by women among the 20 entries. Woo-hoo, that’s 400 percent better than last year’s ratio!
Voilà, that’s the thing I love. On the other hand, I didn’t love the third distaff entry (after Sleeping Beauty by Julia Leigh and We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lynne Ramsay). Polisse (in French) or Poliss (in English) is, either way you spell it, the awkward title, based on a child’s misspelling, of a new, sub-par spin-off of Law & Order: Child Protection Unit. At least, it could be. The poliss...
Voilà, that’s the thing I love. On the other hand, I didn’t love the third distaff entry (after Sleeping Beauty by Julia Leigh and We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lynne Ramsay). Polisse (in French) or Poliss (in English) is, either way you spell it, the awkward title, based on a child’s misspelling, of a new, sub-par spin-off of Law & Order: Child Protection Unit. At least, it could be. The poliss...
- 5/13/2011
- by Lisa Schwarzbaum
- EW - Inside Movies
Karin Viard, Joey Starr and Marina Fois in Polisse Polisse is a fast-paced, tragic, touching, emotional and occasionally hilarious look at the French police's Child Protective Unit (Cpu). It plays like a documentary, or a hard-hitting two hour premiere to a new cable police procedural, which we all now know is in no way an insult.
Co-writer and director Maiwenn Le Besco has crafted a story focused on the Cpu with a dedication to realism as it places the daily life of ten Cpu agents under the microscope. Trouble at home, trouble with co-workers and all their joys, disappointments and successes are on display. With each new scene comes a new emotion. Polisse is so tightly edited you're barely given a moment to breathe as it moves from one story to the next and by the time it's over you'll be surprised two hours has already gone by.
The politics...
Co-writer and director Maiwenn Le Besco has crafted a story focused on the Cpu with a dedication to realism as it places the daily life of ten Cpu agents under the microscope. Trouble at home, trouble with co-workers and all their joys, disappointments and successes are on display. With each new scene comes a new emotion. Polisse is so tightly edited you're barely given a moment to breathe as it moves from one story to the next and by the time it's over you'll be surprised two hours has already gone by.
The politics...
- 5/13/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Actress Stephanie Sigman poses during the photocall for 'Miss Bala' at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, 13 May 2011. The movie by Mexican director Gerardo Najanjo is presented in the 'Un Certain Regard' section of the film festival, running from 11 to 22 May. Epa/Guillaume Horcajuelo French director Maiwenn (C) poses with French actors and cast members, (L-r) Nicolas Duvauchelle, Joey Starr, Arnaud Henriet, Jeremie Elkaim, Frederic Pierrot and Louis-Do de Lencquesaing during the photocall for 'Polisse' at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, 13 May 2011. The movie by Maiwenn is presented in the Official Competition of the film festival, running from 11 to 22 May. Epa/Guillaume Horcajuelo Mexican actor Noe Hernandez poses during...
- 5/13/2011
- by M&C
- Monsters and Critics
One of the movies that will premiere In Competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival is an upcoming French drama titled Polisse, and we’re here today to have a little chat about a project that definitely deserves our attention.
And no, it’s not just because Maiwenn Le Besco was in charge for this one, although I’m sure you all remember her as the Diva from Luc Besson‘s The Fifth Element.
Polisse is a movie that follows a journalist covering the juvenile unit of a police force, and it’s a story both written and directed by Maiwenn Le Besco (or, simply Maiwenn). As usual, she’s the part of the cast, too, and the rest of the cast includes Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Karole Rocher and Lou Doillon.
Here’ the synopsis for Polisse: Fred, a rebel at the juvenile division in Paris,...
And no, it’s not just because Maiwenn Le Besco was in charge for this one, although I’m sure you all remember her as the Diva from Luc Besson‘s The Fifth Element.
Polisse is a movie that follows a journalist covering the juvenile unit of a police force, and it’s a story both written and directed by Maiwenn Le Besco (or, simply Maiwenn). As usual, she’s the part of the cast, too, and the rest of the cast includes Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Joey Starr, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Karole Rocher and Lou Doillon.
Here’ the synopsis for Polisse: Fred, a rebel at the juvenile division in Paris,...
- 4/23/2011
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
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