Frederic Saurel Movies
- 2008
A lawman infiltrates Paris's criminal underground to bring a gang of killers to justice in this violent thriller. Abel Vargas (Gerald Laroche) is a powerful crime boss who is serving time in prison, and as he's being transferred from one penitentiary to another, his police escort is met by a large band of Vargas's underlings, who attack them with furious violence. When the dust settles, Vargas is a fugitive and a large number of officers are dead. Police detective Vincent Drieu (Richard Berry) is put in charge of the investigation to find Vargas and his henchmen, and after losing patience with his fellow gumshoes, Drieu begins working undercover, hoping to find Vargas's associates by passing as a fellow member of the criminal fraternity. In time Drieu finds a pair of cops who understand his style and working methods, Kathia (Aissa Maiga) and Wazemme (Bernard Blancan), and together they dig deep into the French underground, courting danger as they become friends with the people they intend to put behind bars. Les Insoumis (aka Crossfire) was the first theatrical feature from director Claude Michel Rome, who previously distinguished himself in European television. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Berry, Pascal Elbe, (more)
A romantic retreat to an isolated house in the countryside turns tragic for two former stepsiblings turned lovers. Marc (Vincent Martinez) and Leá (Melanie Thierry) grew up together under one roof. As adults they share the same living conditions, but as lovers rather than siblings. Their relationship defined by passionate cruelty, they shut themselves away from the world as they drift into a heighted state of emotion. When a violent windstorm blows in and a nosy boss shows up, madness takes hold and a sacrifice is made. But when murder is committed out of love, can it really be considered a crime? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Martinez, Mélanie Thierry, (more)
- 2002
Nicholas Cuche's supernatural comedy Jojo La Frite (Accidental Saint) stars Didier Becchetti and Frederic Saurel as a pair of small-time con artists. Ralph (Becchetti) and Swan (Saurel) barely survive by committing petty thefts and scams. At Christmastime Swan stops a mugger from getting away with a woman's purse. Suddenly a halo appears above Swan's head. He is now an angel. This gives his partner Ralph fits as Swan is no longer able to engage in immoral activities. When Swan performs a miracle, crime boss Benz (Jean-Christophe Bouvet) becomes interested in exploiting them for profit. Accidental Saint was screened at the Avignon Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Didier Becchetti, Frederic Saurel, (more)
- 1994
This moving French drama chronicles the touching relationship between a French officer and a retarded soldier. It is set during the Algerian War, circa 1961. Sergeant Dallers has just been stationed in a remote and primitive Algerian outpost. A highly educated man, he is at first distressed that his assigned partner, Lagrange, is mentally retarded and should never been drafted. Lagrange has had to put up with the bored pranks of the other soldiers for a while now because he wants them to like and accept him. He is so retarded that he cannot be trusted with a real gun and therefore carries a wooden one. In time Dallers comes to care about Lagrange and to become more understanding of his plight. Simple Lagrange becomes a hero toward the end of the film. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samuel Le Bihan, Jordi Mollà, (more)
- 1987
Nicole (Marianne Basler) gives birth to a mentally challenged boy after she is gang-raped by American soldiers at the close of World War II in this grim dramatic tragedy. Young Ludo is hidden in the attic of the family home and continues to yearn for his mother's affection. Nicole enters into a loveless marriage with an older man who agrees to adopt Ludo, but her deteriorating mental health leads her to sloth and alcoholism. Ludo is sent off to an asylum, but escapes and takes up residence on a deserted beach in an old tanker that has run aground. This feature won the grand prize at the 1987 Barcelona Film Festival. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marianne Basler, Thierry Frémont, (more)
