A critically acclaimed French film, winner of the Cannes Jury Prize 2011 and 13 Cesar Awards also earning international praise. Yet some critics found it manipulative and likened it to TVs The Wire when a film splits critics like this its usually well worth the watch.
The Paris Police Departments Juvenile Protection Unit has a tough job and its made even harder when photographer (Maiwenn) is sent to document their activities. Fred (Joey Starr) in particular resents the intrusiveness of the photographers lens recording candid meetings, raids, interviews and how the team winds down. Somehow this film about the most difficult of topics works. It captures the warmth, caring and tensions in the team and the officers commitment to what they do. We see the impact of the protection role on their own relationships as, day in day out, they take child pickpocket gangs off the streets, deal with abandoned children and interview adults evading accusations of inappropriate intimacy.
We realise if we didn’t know before that child abuse takes many forms. There’s even humour as a teenager just doesn’t get what’s wrong with her excesses. This is Maiwenn’s third feature film (All About Actresses (2009), Pardonnez-Moi (2006)) and she certainly directs with panache. The interweaving storylines based on true events, the fly-on-the-wall style, the sheer urgency of the narrative grabs viewers and keeps them riveted. There are some excellent performances from Marina Fois (Iris) and Joey Starr if anyone lets the side down its Maiwenn herself, often a mistake when the director acts in their own film.
A fascinating tour de force Whatever your view you wont be neutral. (Best explanation for why its called Polisse (polish in French) a child’s spelling of police (Roger Ebert))
Its restless and compelling, ragged and moving. Tim Robey, The Daily Telegraph
This challenging police-procedural docudrama is worth watching closely and taking seriously. Film4
Has an infectious energy and aims for a bottom-up, slice-of-life air characterised by naturalistic performances and a fly-on-the-wall shooting style. Dave Calhoun TimeOut
