Strictement personnel

1985 1h 30m FR

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 2

Thriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The crimes and tragedies that tear apart one family seem overblown in the telling, yet this psychological drama about the miseries of one French policeman is compelling throughout. Jean (Pierre Arditi) is a cop and also a failed novelist who was abandoned by his father, brother, and sister after his mother died. The trio move to Paris where they set up an art scam that nets them considerable cash -- something Jean begins to figure out when he joins them for a family reunion. Little by little, he learns that his father is an expert forger, his stepmother's art gallery seems to be involved in the scam, his brother is a derelict and into drugs, his stepmother is a hooker in addition to all of this, and his sister runs an exercise gym for keeping prostitutes in shape. Things get worse -- just when everything seems bad enough, the stepmother is murdered and it is up to Jean to find the killer.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Pierre Arditi
Jean Cottard
Jacques Penot
Benoît
Caroline Chaniolleau
Hélène
Robert Rimbaud
Le père
Jean Reno
Le détective Villechaize
Maurice Baquet
Le concierge
Michel Fortin
Georges Landrin
Jean Bouise
Le commissaire

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Pierre Jolivet
Writers: Bernard Balavoine, Christiane Krüger, Luc Béraud
Languages: French
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

41 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Pierre Jolivet, shot by Christian Lamarque. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by Serge Perathoner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nelly Quettier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Pierre Arditi and Jacques Penot and Caroline Chaniolleau carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0090090 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Pierre Jolivet directs. Christian Lamarque behind the camera. Serge Perathoner scores. Nelly Quettier cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in France. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
241 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Pierre Jolivet, shot by Christian Lamarque. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Serge Perathoner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Nelly Quettier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Pierre Arditi and Jacques Penot and Caroline Chaniolleau carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0090090 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 2 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.