Yves Boisset was one of a trio of young French directors in the 1970's who made very entertaining, profitable movies about crime and political/social problems (the others were Costa-Gavras and Philippe Labro). L'Attentat dealt with the Ben Barka affair, R.A.S. with the excesses of the French army in Algeria, Le juge Fayard with the assassination of a judge who was probing too deeply into corrupt politicians. This latter film helped to launch the career of Patrick Dewaere.
This film isn't as good as the preceding ones. Miou-Miou plays an overzealous cop on her way down who stumbles on a pedophile ring involving some rich and powerful people in a small town. Leny Escudero has a small but effective part as an anarchist troublemaker who helps the cop. Francois Simon has a wonderful cameo as the old doctor who dispenses worthless homeopathic serums; living in a ratty old house reeking of cat urine, he's paying tribute to Celine. This picture has the feel of an hour-long detective show blown up to feature length. Only Miou-Miou's naive yet stubborn determination and her strength under the frail exterior keep it going.
