La balance (1982)

Nicole is a Parisian streetwalker and Dede is her racketeer boyfriend, on the outs with his mob bosses because of a dispute over Nicole. When a police informant ("balance") is murdered, the... See full summary »

Director:

Bob Swaim

Writers:

Mathieu Fabiani (dialogue), Bob Swaim (dialogue),

Stars:

Nathalie Baye, Philippe Léotard, Richard Berry

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nathalie Baye	...	Nicole Danet
Philippe Léotard	...	Dédé Laffont
Richard Berry	...	Mathias Palouzi
Maurice Ronet	...	Roger Massina
Bernard Freyd	...	Le Capitaine
Christophe Malavoy	...	Tintin
Jean-Paul Comart	...	Le Belge (as Jean-Paul Connart)
Albert Dray	...	Carlini
Florent Pagny	...	Simoni
Tchéky Karyo	...	Petrovic (as Tcheky Karyo)
Raouf Ben Yaghlane	...	Djerbi
Galia Salimo	...	Sabrina, la prostituée (as Galia Dujardin)
Sam Karmann	...	Paulo Sanchez
Robert Atlan	...	Ayouche
Luc-Antoine Diquéro	...	Picard

Storyline

Nicole is a Parisian streetwalker and Dede is her racketeer boyfriend, on the outs with his mob bosses because of a dispute over Nicole. When a police informant ("balance") is murdered, the cops have to scramble for a replacement. Deciding on Dede, they begin to put a nasty squeeze on him and Nicole.

---

Plot Keywords:

informant | police | tourist | fraud | violence | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

10 November 1982 (France)

Also Known As:

The Nark

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Ariane, Films A2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Star Wars (1977)

User Reviews

high wire act

A small time ex-con (Phillipe Leotard as Dede) and his prostitute girlfriend Nicole (Nathalie Baye) are relentlessly pressured by an aggressive and at time brutal police squad led by Mathias Palouzi (Richard Berry) to inform on the mob. Using any means necessary, playing one off against the other, humiliation, beatings, or threats, the couple is forced to become informants on underworld leader Roger Massina (Maurice Ronet). The love story is at the heart of the film, while the cops and crooks make up opposite ends, though they often employ similar means. Berry seems to flourish in the middle, beating up on Dede while playing a little softer with his girlfriend Nicole. A fast pace takes us whizzing through some great Paris locations, through a stagey looking though fairly impressive shootout on a crowded street, and several seedy dead end alleyways. Many of the underworld characterizations are terrific, and the classy soundtrack (especially the ending) is perfect for the mood.