And also the most despised, underrated, and if you watch closely, you will undertsand why. It is gloomy, disturbing and absolutely faithful to the novel from Robin Cook, from whom it is adapted. I don't remember if it is faithful to the line, to the least detail, to the book, but to the overall atmosphere is: depressing, hopeless, sometimes disgusting. Dialogues are so sharp, so chiseled, beware not to get cut. Jean-Pierre Marielle gives here a terrific performance, on of his best role. Yes this is not a family audiences, to watch with your wife, kids and mother in law. If you like this film, I advise you to read Robin Cook's novels. I mean the real Robin Cook, the British novelist, not the American one, specialized in medical intrigues, Robin Cook the "surgeon", the novelist which inspired Michael Crichton's COMA. Crichton, who was himself specialized in more or less science fiction thrillers....
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searchanddestroy-113 November 2022
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dbdumonteil30 March 2005This movie enjoys a very good reputation in France.This is a bleak depressing dirge-like effort.A cop (Marielle) has lost his daughter (killed by her mother,now in an insane asylum)and he acts as if she's still alive,telling her about his investigation into a horrible murder.The last lines ,when the detective visits the grave are almost unbearable.
The two stories do not hang well together.And we cannot help but feel some homophobia and misogyny while we're watching Heynemann's flick.It's an earnest movie,but it's also a bit boring.The long conversations between the cop and his suspect become grating in the long run.
The movie is dedicated to Edgar P.Jacobs.The connection between the creator of the adventures of Blake and Mortimer and the film escapes me ,I fear...
The hero's colleague is a true movie buff.And he mentions Frank Borzague's masterpieces such as "mortal storm" and "strange cargo" .Which is very dangerous.Because,personally,it makes me feel like ditching Heynemann and savoring Borzague.
Heynemann's best film remains his first "la question".