Polisse is a film that has struck me with its powerful dialogue, a few very intimate and heartbreaking scenes, and the strange, tragic ending. Starting with the elements of the film that stung my heart... 1. The girl with the stillborn child, the result of a rape. The baby was so small and so obviously premature that it couldn't really be categorized as an infant - but the young girl didn't refer to it as a fetus. She ignored the tacit anxiety of the nurses and asked to hold her baby, and she cradled it with the most heartbreaking look of denial in her eyes. She was completely in a daze, and when she finally began to cry I just couldn't believe how real it felt. 2. The scene in which Melissa and Fred were having dinner with her family. The editing just made everything seem so fresh and breezy, and the way this scene was cut just made me incredibly nostalgic. The lines were so adorable too - from Melissa's sweet grandfather to the close-ups of delighted smiles and familial love. Also, seeing Melissa on the balcony, taking pictures of people on the street - who actually were people involved who went the CPU as victims or predators - was so powerful. First of all, the composition of Melissa photographing just blew me away. Secondly, I was so completely touched when I saw little denouements for the minor characters, like the African woman reunited with her son. This entire scene was something I really found valuable and meaningful. 3. Nora's intense screaming at the religious man about the Q'uran and respect. He absolutely deserved it, especially after he told her that she should have been at home with her husband and children. 4. The most beautiful and poignant scene in the entire movie, for me, was after Mathieu got shot and was in the hospital with Chrys. I began to hold my breath as soon as he, with a lap full of Pepito cookies that Chrys bought him, touched her hand with this unbearably honest sense of devotion and affection. Chrys' husband left the room. They entwined their fingers together, and he said, "You do love me a bit, don't you?" She kissed him with a sad passion, and they both began sobbing. I have never, ever seen a more intimate or perfect moment of love and sadness. I commend both actors - Nicolas Duvuauchelle and Karole Rocher - for portraying their flawless chemistry in a way that I will never, ever forget.
Things I liked and disliked: 1. Balloo's outrage at his wife when suggested to "talk about work" incited him into screaming about how he would have to wake up at 4AM in order to take children away and rip families apart. I found this scene to be powerful, but it was a little too early on in the film for such an overwhelming and self-deprecating commentary on the justice system. There were many other scenes in which "talking about work" caused there to be overly offensive language that escalated too quickly to be realistic. The CPU workers would give numerous examples of pedophilia and prostitution in their speeches concerning their dislike for talking about work; I just found these examples to be crudely insensitive and way out of line, even for a CPU worker. 2. The spitfire dialogue between Gabriel and the older officers in the cafeteria. I found it to be realistic and interesting to observe, but it did become too noisy and thus slightly ineffective. 3. The large cast and each character's highly distinctive character. The acting in this film was just amazing. I found that I was able to distinguish each person for myself. However, by the time I did (and with such a big cast) I found myself missing out on the little details that defined each character. 3. Melissa. I think some aspects of her character added to the film - like her fake glasses and failing to shoot the gun well - but overall she was an awkward addition to the cast, and was too much in between; she never really was distant enough to be isolated (would always be around, even at their social gatherings) but didn't bond at all with any of them except for Fred. Her romance with Fred I found to be a beautifully filmed and executed relationship - but it was NOT something to be shoved in the middle of a fast-paced and gritty film like this one.
Things I didn't like: 1. Nadine interrupting the judge and slowly kissing her husband passionately on the neck, in front of the judge/lawyers. I just wanted to ask, what purpose does such an action serve? All it did was make me feel uncomfortable. 2. The weird relationship between Melissa and her husband. What was his purpose? Since he isn't the foil to Melissa's character (she basically has none), what purpose does he serve? As I see it, he only adds more sadness bulk to the film when he is watching Melissa pack her things and move away. 3. The very last part of the ending... Just, why?
Overall, I will say that most of the ending really was what warmed my heart. Though there were quite a few unanswered questions, the peppering of sweet lines ("You couldn't even be an extra") and the powerfully convincing dialogues (Nadine and Iris) really made up for the plot holes and problems with filming. There are so many more things I would like to discuss about this film but maybe the best thing would be for you to watch it yourself. I definitely recommend it!
Things I liked and disliked: 1. Balloo's outrage at his wife when suggested to "talk about work" incited him into screaming about how he would have to wake up at 4AM in order to take children away and rip families apart. I found this scene to be powerful, but it was a little too early on in the film for such an overwhelming and self-deprecating commentary on the justice system. There were many other scenes in which "talking about work" caused there to be overly offensive language that escalated too quickly to be realistic. The CPU workers would give numerous examples of pedophilia and prostitution in their speeches concerning their dislike for talking about work; I just found these examples to be crudely insensitive and way out of line, even for a CPU worker. 2. The spitfire dialogue between Gabriel and the older officers in the cafeteria. I found it to be realistic and interesting to observe, but it did become too noisy and thus slightly ineffective. 3. The large cast and each character's highly distinctive character. The acting in this film was just amazing. I found that I was able to distinguish each person for myself. However, by the time I did (and with such a big cast) I found myself missing out on the little details that defined each character. 3. Melissa. I think some aspects of her character added to the film - like her fake glasses and failing to shoot the gun well - but overall she was an awkward addition to the cast, and was too much in between; she never really was distant enough to be isolated (would always be around, even at their social gatherings) but didn't bond at all with any of them except for Fred. Her romance with Fred I found to be a beautifully filmed and executed relationship - but it was NOT something to be shoved in the middle of a fast-paced and gritty film like this one.
Things I didn't like: 1. Nadine interrupting the judge and slowly kissing her husband passionately on the neck, in front of the judge/lawyers. I just wanted to ask, what purpose does such an action serve? All it did was make me feel uncomfortable. 2. The weird relationship between Melissa and her husband. What was his purpose? Since he isn't the foil to Melissa's character (she basically has none), what purpose does he serve? As I see it, he only adds more sadness bulk to the film when he is watching Melissa pack her things and move away. 3. The very last part of the ending... Just, why?
Overall, I will say that most of the ending really was what warmed my heart. Though there were quite a few unanswered questions, the peppering of sweet lines ("You couldn't even be an extra") and the powerfully convincing dialogues (Nadine and Iris) really made up for the plot holes and problems with filming. There are so many more things I would like to discuss about this film but maybe the best thing would be for you to watch it yourself. I definitely recommend it!