La balance

...of a different Paris, different love story and images of cops. a precise and impressive film. for the portraits of characters. for the science to escape from cliches circle, for the inspired way to tell a dirty, insignificant, ordinary story, using each of its nuances in admirable manner. a woman. and her man. and the Police as the shark in the essence of relationship who could be normal. it is easy to define it as a film with a great cast , from Maurice Ronet and young Tcheky Karyo to Nathalie Baye. but the authentic star of film remains Phililipe Leotard, giving a dramatic performance. so, a revelation. at each new view. because it represents the realistic portrait of a world who seems, from so many (American) films, well known.

Set in the cobbled, mean streets of the Belleville quarter in París , it deals with a Police brigade led by Inspector Mathias : Richard Berry that compels a couple formed by a prostitute named Nicole : Natalie Baye and her pimp called Dede : Philippe Leotard . The latter on the outs with his gangster boss because of a quarrel over Nicole. The cops force to the crook to be an informer - or Balance in French language or Mule - by leaning on the prostitute he very much loves. As the police officers scramble for a substitute deciding on Dede. As he must double-cross a dangerous gangster : Maurice Ronet and henchman : Tcheky Karyo.

A French thriller , nicknamed "Polar" , with all the usual requisites as betrayals , dispute , shootouts , car chases and lowlife infighting are delivered with great verbe , action-packed and well-paced . It results to be a decent thriller , but what really distinguishes this Polar is the enjoyable strength on the emotional front . Detailing equally a strong police corruption with cops scrambling for a replacement using nasty methods, as coercing and violence to put a heinous squeeze on the starring to be an informant. Develoving a complex intrigue in which loyalties become more and more crossed until treason is the only means to salvation . Main and support cast are pretty good . Philippe Leotard at last breaks his traditional acting to give us a superb interpretation as the racketeer pimp with a heart of glass , while Nathalie Baye is also top-notch as the Parisian streetwalker prostitute in distress. They are well accompanied by a fine French cast, such as : Richard Berry as tough police inspector, Maurice Ronet as mob boss , Tcheky Karyo as a ruthless hoodlum , Christopher Malavay, Francois Berleand, among others.

It contains an evocative and realist cinematogrphy of the French slums and police station by Bernard Zitzermann. The motion picture was well directed by a good craftsman called Bob Swain who has made a few agreeable films with nice casting as "Half Moon Street" with Michael Caine, Sigourney Weaver, "Masquerade" with Rob Lowe, Kim Cattrall , Atlantide, and "Climb" with John Hurt, Gregory Smith . Rating 6/10 . Acceptable and passable , it it will appeal to French thrillers aficionados .

Somewhat in the tradition of literary realism, this is a police story with much drama and a hint of tragedy. When the determined police officer Palouzi (Berry)decides to get the mob boss in his district by replacing a blown up informer, his choice is a hooker, Nicole (N. Baye) and her pimp, Dédé (P. Léotard). Both are rather humane, likable and loyal to each other. Perhaps a bit of a cliché in the character Nicole. Palouzi will put ruthless pressure on them to get their reluctant collaboration. Given this scenario, things will be necessarily difficult for them. Very good performances of Berry, Baye and Léotard, and some violence scenes well staged and played. Interesting denouement with somewhat ambiguous (to me) ending. The character of the efficient, driven and street-wise officer Palouzi has interest and psychological depth. Maybe he will be devious and tough to make Nicole and Dédé to play his game, but also maybe he will try to keep them out of harm's way, if possible. In sum, no clear-cut heroes and villains, good story and script, good actors, intense action, credible ambiance, with some interesting characters.

The psychological techniques of the Chief Inspector Palouzi(Richard Berry)and his sometimes cruel, but equally compassionate portrayal of a decent human being, "just doing his job" was quite well done--Hat's off to Bob Swain--Chicago's own! Berry-himself of French-Algerian decent, is very smooth; and his mature attitude--not arrogance--is what pulls him though. The Acting by Nathalie Baye and the late Philippe Leotard was also excellent. Some of the chases and Arrests were Hokey-but, the Overwhelming theme here is the true devotion of a Woman(Baye) to her Man(Leotard). We need more stories about devotion to People, rather than Devotion to careers or even countries-- No displaced loyalties here--Baye's acting was superb, and I am married to a very devoted woman, so I identify with her loyalty to "Dede"!

Does anyone Know what Richard Barry(Benguigui) is doing these days? He is a fine actor. Bon Chance to all! Try and see this one, if you haven't already seen it.

I can't believe that this movie has no comments and hardly any votes. It's a tough 1982 thriller set in Paris' Algerian sector. A specialist Police Unit pressurise a pimp and his hooker into becoming informants to enable them to bring down a local gangster. Although directed by an American (spot the U.S. film posters at the Police Station), the film is full of French style. The clothes, the food, the shades... The pacing is fast, the plot is good and the characters are fascinating. Baye is incredibly sexy as the 'tart with a heart' and Leotard looks suitably seedy as the pimp in love with her. It's a strange relationship, letting your lover have sex with strangers in order to put money in the joint account! I also like the way that the cops, who arrest and harass hookers, are shown to be willing to use their services on lonely nights. Pace, excitement, black humour and romance. What more can one ask from a thriller? 8/10