Screened in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Maïwenn invites us to dive into the daily life of the police team at the BPM (Child Protection Brigade) in Paris. Everything is examined: the custody of pedophiles, minors caught in a pickpocket network, rapes, malevolence, sexual misconduct…
Starring Karine Viard, Joestarr, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle…
Given the number of characters in the film and the number of cases handled, one might fear a cold and superficial catalog. This is not the case at all, quite the contrary.
Maïwenn has managed to give depth to each of her characters and engage us in each of the cases by highlighting the essential points.
All this in a very realistic manner akin to a documentary. The absolutely remarkable acting, the movement of the camera, the intensity, and realism of the dialogues contribute largely to this result.
One can’t help but think, from the way it is filmed, of Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet, which was awarded at Cannes last year. Another interest of the film is that it shows all these protagonists in their humanity.
Men and women who, despite the difficulties they encounter, strive to do their job as policemen to the best of their ability and who also have a social and romantic life. The human relationships that develop among these colleagues are filled with friendship, doubt, joy, and delirium (a necessary breather given the seriousness of the cases handled).
The actors, who seem to have a certain freedom in their interpretation, are remarkably truthful. Karine Viard and Joestarr give it their all; some scenes are of breathtaking intensity (acting award?).
An uncensored and moving film that deserves to be in the official selection, revealing in Maïwenn the talent of a great director and demonstrating that high-quality cinema can be made for a wide audience as well.
by Charles Scibetta
