Introduction

The original title of this film, La French, is a French abbreviation for “The French Connection,” the infamous drug-trafficking route that runs from the South of France to the U.S., and the title of another film, which won five Academy Awards in 1971. Showdowns between a powerful boss who rules an evil empire built on narcotics and a judge whose sole goal is to destroy organized crime are a staple of both film and fiction. This work, part of the same lineage, deftly recreates a 1970s feel and develops at such a fast clip that it is difficult to believe this is only the director’s second feature. Jean Dujardin, known for his starring role in The Artist (2011) exerts a powerful screen presence, and Gilles Lellouche, a key figure in contemporary film noir, brings a special sense of dignity to the battle between good and evil. A lustrous supporting cast also makes for constantly compelling viewing.