De l'amour

In "De L'Amour" (the title is borrowed from a book by Stendahl),Richet meant to denounce racism in the police .It was commendable,provided you do not think racism exists only among the cops.

So it may have been,but if so it signally fails in its purpose.Not only the movie is rather flat ,but it is also as if the director (as an user has already pointed out),towards the end of the effort,suddenly appreciated how listless it was and desperately attempted to enliven things by last-minute devices such as the very violent scenes in the woods.

Two different guys "represent" the Police:

The lieutenant(Bruno Putzulu,De la Comédie Française) is good-looking,nice,human .He has a prepossessing wife and kids (we can hear them) and he opens his door to every Tom,Dick and Harry all day and night.

In direct contrast with this,we have the cop in uniform(Jean -François Stevenin,one of Truffaut's favorite actors):he is mean,vicious,racist,sinister-looking.We do not know whether he has a family life. He hints at frequent suicide among the Police,which is true .

Virginie Le Doyen is his victim .He can't forgive her for sleeping with an Arab.