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“Polisse” premiere at Cannes
Maiwenn’s “Polisse” wrapped up the trio of dark movies by women on Thursday evening.
“Polisse” deals with the lives of co-workers of a child protection unit of a police department. And while they feel that they’re making a difference in the world, the cases that they face take an emotional toll.
There’s a never-ending cast of pedophiles making their way through the department: a father who molests his daughter; a Muslim who’s trying to force his young daughter into an unwanted marriage; a band of crooks who are forcing their children into prostitution; a gymnastics coach who’s fondling one of his students; a young girl who willingly performs oral sex on several guys in the hopes of getting her stolen smartphone back. It’s a mixture of horror — and in the last case, appalling black humor.
Director Maiwenn plays Melissa, a wealthy but independent photographer who is assigned to document the workers’ lives. But in the process, she begins to fall for one of the child abuse investigators, Fred (Joeystarr). And in case you’re wondering, this is one of those hip French movies with actors who go by only one name.
Many of the cases reflect the multicultural makeup of today’s France. That’s especially true when a female Muslim investigator confronts a Muslim father who treats his daughter a sexual pawn. The movie sometimes borders on melodrama, but the documentary-style feature proves effective in relaying the ups and downs of workers trying to protect kids.
The movie is reminiscent of “The Class,” a French film about a group of school kids. It took home the Palme d’Or, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if “Polisse” followed in its footsteps. But it’s still early, with 17 more competition titles to come.
Director Maiwenn Le Besco gestures as she speaks during a press conference for Polisse, at the 64th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
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