What's a better symbol of the innocence and wholesomeness of youth than a playground? Yet even in such surroundings you can't escape the monsters who prey on children. Thus begins "Polisse" a no holds barred look at a CPU - Paris Child Protection Unit. This is a very active, totally absorbing procedural that covers a lot of territory in its 2 hour length. The script by Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot (both of whom appear in the film) effectively weaves together a series of real life cases. Maiwenn also directed in a gritty cinema verite style. The excellent cast is headed by Joey Starr as Fred a headstrong detective who falls for a photographer (Maiwenn) doing a story on the CPU. Karin Viard is Nadine who's reluctant to obtain a divorce despite her husband's infidelities. Marina Fois (Iris) is an associate and confidante of Nadine's. Frederic Pierrot is Baloo the leader of the CPU and intermediary between the humanitarian interests of the unit and the callous bureaucrats in charge. "Polisse" is an explicit, serious drama that is far above the usual television melodramas about similar subjects. It came in third place winning the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival behind "Tree Of Life", "Once Upon a Time In Anatolia" and "The Kid With a Bike".
