Le Petit Lieutenant (2005)
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79% of critics liked it
(53 reviews) -
58% of users liked it
(2,314 ratings)
A young, inexperienced detective is inducted into an elite Paris plainclothes unit in Le Petit Lieutenant, directed by Xavier Beauvois (Don't Forget You're Going to Die). Antoine (Jalil Lespert or Human Resources) is as gung-ho as they come, and eager to learn everything he needs to know to… More A young, inexperienced detective is inducted into an elite Paris plainclothes unit in Le Petit Lieutenant, directed by Xavier Beauvois (Don't Forget You're Going to Die). Antoine (Jalil Lespert or Human Resources) is as gung-ho as they come, and eager to learn everything he needs to know to be a good cop, although he misses his wife (Bérangère Allaux), a schoolteacher who stayed behind in the country when Antoine took his new job. Antoine socializes with his new comrades, who seem to drink an awful lot, with the exception of the unit commander, Caroline (Nathalie Baye), an alcoholic who has just returned from a long stint on desk duty. The other experienced detectives that Antoine looks up to are the cynical Louis (Antoine Chappey), and the stalwart Solo (Roschdy Zem), who in addition to the rigors of the job faces bigotry due to his Moroccan origin. When a Polish immigrant is found murdered in a canal near the station, the unit begins a methodical investigation, eventually learning that the victim was last seen with a couple of Russians. When a second victim is rescued from the waters of the canal a few days later, the case takes on a new urgency. As Antoine tries to fit in and learn on the job, Caroline struggles with her addiction and forms an almost maternal bond with the rookie. Le Petit Lieutenant also features Jacques Perrin, and was shown by the Film Society of Lincoln Center as part of their 2006 Rendez-Vous with French Cinema. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Directed By
- Xavier Beauvois
- Written By
- Cédric Anger, Xavier Beauvois, Guillaume Bréaud, Jean-Eric Troubat
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Sep 8, 2006 Limited
- Studio
- Cinema Libre
Critic Reviews
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David Germain, Associated Press
A quiet powerhouse of a film, an implacable, uncompromising French police drama, both old-fashioned and modern, that underlines the reasons impeccably made crime stories do so well on-screen.
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Le Petit Lieutenant shows how good French movies can be when they stay French and don't try to go international.
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Leighton Klein, Boston Globe
... you can sense Baye's struggling within the limits imposed on her.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
The film's plot, revolving around a murder investigation that turns nasty, ticks along smoothly and efficiently. But it's ultimately more of a character drama, and a reminder that great acting often has little to do with words.
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Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times
Le Petit Lieutenant looks at Antoine's life with lyricism.
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Cast
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Nathalie Baye
as Caroline Vaudieu
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Jalil Lespert
as Antoine Derouère, Antoine Derouère, Ant...
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Roschdy Zem
as Solo
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Antoine Chappey
as Mallet
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Jacques Perrin
as Clermont
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Xavier Beauvois
as Nicolas Morbé, Nicolas Morbé, Nicolas M...
- Bérangère Allaux
- Rosechdy Zem
