36th Precinct

Plot

In the underbelly of the Parisian criminal world, the Police are frustrated by a gang committing a series of violent robberies…

Release Year: 2004

Rating: 7.1/10 (8,707 voted)

Director:
Olivier Marchal

Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Gérard Depardieu, André Dussollier

Storyline
In the underbelly of the Parisian criminal world, the Police are frustrated by a gang committing a series of violent robberies. Leo Vrinks and Denis Klein are two cops seeking promotion, and the imminent departure of the Chief sets the scene for them to compete for the vacant throne. The competition between them becomes increasingly ruthless and blurs the usual lines of morality, until there seems no difference between the police and the criminals they chase. Vrinks, meeting with a source, becomes involved with a murder. Klein seizes the opportunity to up the ante and arranges for the arrest of Vrinks, but when he goes further and viciously involves Vrinks' wife, Camille, revenge is inevitable.

Writers: Olivier Marchal, Franck Mancuso

Cast:

Daniel Auteuil
–

Léo Vrinks

Gérard Depardieu
–

Denis Klein

André Dussollier
–

Robert Mancini

Roschdy Zem
–

Hugo Silien

Valeria Golino
–

Camille Vrinks

(as Valéria Golino)

Daniel Duval
–

Eddy Valence

Francis Renaud
–

Titi Brasseur

Catherine Marchal
–

Ève Verhagen

Guy Lecluyse
–

Groluc

Alain Figlarz
–

Francis Horn

Vincent Moscato
–

Jenner

Anne Consigny
–

Hélène Klein

Stéphane Metzger
–

Smao

Solène Biasch
–

Lola Vrinks (11 ans)

Aurore Auteuil
–

Lola Vrinks (17 ans)

Release Date: 24 November 2004

Filming Locations: Paris, France

Opening Weekend: €321,968
(Italy)
(23 January 2005)
(140 Screens)

Gross: €1,031,012
(Italy)
(13 March 2005)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France: #104874.

User Review

A great surprise !!

Rating: 9/10


What a good surprise this movie has been ! I just had to let you know
about it as soon as possible

As it might not rings any bell in foreigners' head, know that the Quai
Des Orfèvres is the familiar name for the Criminal Investigations
Division of the Paris Police, located at no. 36. In popular parlance,
"Quai des Orfèvres" means to the French what "Scotland Yard" means to
the British.

Indeed we are here in a thriller, a dark one. The director, Olivier
Marchal is a former cop and the story of 36 Quai Des Orfèvres is from
real facts from the life of Dominique Loiseau (who co-wrote the
script), former member of the BRI (Brigade de Recherche et
d'Intervention = Search and Action Squad, the "anti-gangs" squad) in
the mid eighties.

In this movie we follow the struggle between two cops.

On one hand we have Vrinks, BRI's head. Daniel Auteuil, who is one of
the most famous actors in France, offers the audience an amazing
performance playing this cop who is found of justice, whatever it costs
and whatever the methods are to take down the criminals. To reach his
ideal of justice he uses to flirt dangerously with the "dark side"
taking risks for his family, his life and his career. Anyway it seems
his priorities are still in this order. Like the Vincent Hanna of Heat,
he just has two lifes he tries to separate: the one at work and the one
at home where he doesn't say anything about his work to his wife
(played by the beautiful Valeria Golino), just because he's afraid that
might make her run away…

On the other hand we have Klein, the head of the BRB (Brigade de
Répression du Banditisme = Crime Repression Squad, taking care of big
robberies and so on) played by a very well known actor, in France but
also around the world after a few appearance in Hollywood movies:
Gérard Depardieu who seems to have reminded the amazing actor he can
be. Depardieu is indeed at his top, playing this ambitious and soured
character who reaches power and power only.

Tensions exist between these two men who used to be friends. They
really don't share the same goals regarding their professional life but
it appears quickly that the problem is mostly located on the private
front. We don't know exactly what has happened but it seems that a
woman, who is now Mrs Vrink, has been between the two of them, breaking
for good their friendship long years ago and creating a scare which is
still very sensitive today.

Their boss Robert Mancini, played by André Dussolier (the narrator's
voice in Amélie, here playing perfectly again a role quite similar to
the one he had in Agents Secrets), makes these tensions get worse when
explaining them that he is about to be promoted. As they are both
equally qualified, they are in competition for his replacement. The one
who will take down a gang of very violent robbers currently holding up
to ridicule the police forces, will be the new head of the number 36,
Quai des Orfèvres.

And here you know just the starting plot of this movie which benefits
of a really really good script. In addition to this perfect script you
have a great casting for the main roles but also for the "background
characters" who are for most of them unknown actors who will surely be
known in a few movies if they continue to play so well and have the
luck again to play in such a great film.

The rhythm of the movie is also really good and, very unexpected for
this kind of production in France, risks have been taken and … it
pays. This movie really takes you in its story and it's a great
journey.

Olivier Marchal is a former cop yes, but more than that he is also a
great thriller movie fans. I've used a reference to Heat earlier and,
according to some interviews I've read after having seen the movie, it
seems that Olivier Marchal totally agrees with me on the fact Heat is
one of the best thriller ever shooted if not the best. He said he
wanted to something in the same spirit, all things considered and I had
indeed been surprised during 36 Quai Des Orfèvres to think a few times
about Michael Man's work. We are far from a Collateral or a Heat but 36
Quai Des Orfèvres doesn't have to get redden in front of these
masterpieces IMHO.

Fan, honest and humble, Olivier Marchal has delivered us a very
efficient and striking thriller who deserves to be classified among the
best of the genre.

36 Quai Des Orfèvres is letting me hope that maybe France will be back
on the thrillers front, which had been quite deserted after a golden
age in the 70's with great directors like Jean-Pierre Melville.

I really hope that this movie will be released in foreign countries and
that most of you will have the opportunity to see it. An opportunity
that I seriously invite you to not miss