L.627 (1992)

This gritty police drama shows us the underbelly of the Parisian drug trade. Lulu is a tough streetwise narcotics cop who, like a Frank Serpico or a Dirty Harry Callahan, doesn't play by ... See full summary »

Director:

Bertrand Tavernier

Writers:

Michel Alexandre, Bertrand Tavernier

Stars:

Didier Bezace, Jean-Paul Comart, Charlotte Kady

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Didier Bezace	...	Lucien 'Lulu' Marguet
Jean-Paul Comart	...	Dodo
Charlotte Kady	...	Marie
Jean-Roger Milo	...	Manuel
Nils Tavernier	...	Vincent
Philippe Torreton	...	Antoine
Lara Guirao	...	Cecile
Cécile Garcia-Fogel	...	Kathy Marguet
Claude Brosset	...	Adore
Fabrice Roux	...	Toulouse
Jean-Luc Abel	...	J.P.
Martial	...	Rambo
Jacky Pratoussy	...	Mario (as Jacques Pratoussy)
Didier Castello	...	Willy
Jacques Rosny	...	Tulipe 4

Storyline

This gritty police drama shows us the underbelly of the Parisian drug trade. Lulu is a tough streetwise narcotics cop who, like a Frank Serpico or a Dirty Harry Callahan, doesn't play by the rules or kowtow to his weak and/or corrupt superiors. Lulu thrives in this violent world, where sheer guts can overcome his squad's deficiencies of money and equipment. Despite the ruthless environment that he lives and works in every day, he still manages somehow to maintain his humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | police | paris france | racism | digit in title | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 September 1992 (France)

Also Known As:

Auf offener Straße

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+, Investimage 3, Les Films Alain Sarde

Technical Specs

Runtime:

145 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"L.627" refers to the article in the French legislation on public health pertaining to narcotics.

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Connections

References My New Partner (1984)

User Reviews

This is as good as cop-films get

Tavernier's examination of the Paris police's losing battle against the drug-dealers was reportedly inspired by the experience of his son's addiction. It is an angry, despairing film. Early on the central character says that "all drug-dealers are terrorists" and later the police chief says that "my son is 13. He will have already met his first dealer".

This is a documentary-style examination from the front-line, where the police are demoralised, under-resourced, corrupt and incompetent. The 'hero', Lulu, (an outstanding performance by Didier Bezace) is a maverick detective who gets transferred to desk duties when he is angered by his drunken boss demanding the return of the unit's van in the middle of a stakeout - so he can go home! After struggling with the police station's incompetent bureaucracy, Lulu is placed in a new anti-drugs unit, led by practical joker Dodo, concerned only with filling in forms and meeting the Ministry's statistical targets.

The whole film rings true, right down to the tedious form-filling using old typewriters and stolen carbon-paper. There is no real plot, as the unit stumbles from disaster to disaster, but rather a series of incidents punctuated by much eating and drinking. As if to contrast with the chaos of the police unit, the film is shot calmly and lucidly by Tavernier. By the end of the film you have become involved with the characters and want to know more about their bleak futures. A wonderful film, and as good a portrait of policing (at its worst) as you will see.