Vidocq (2001)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Pitof

Writers:

François-Eugène Vidocq (memoirs)
Pitof (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 September 2001 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The underworld has surfaced...

Plot:

Paris. 1830. In the heart of the town, Vidocq, a famous detective, disappeared as he fights the Alchemist...

Plot Keywords:

1830s | Detective | Alchemist | Investigation | Paris

Awards:

7 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Vidocq
Guillaume Canet	...	Etienne Boisset
Inés Sastre	...	Préah
André Dussollier	...	Lautrennes
Edith Scob	...	Sylvia
Moussa Maaskri	...	Nimier
Jean-Pierre Gos	...	Tauzet
Isabelle Renauld	...	Marine Lafitte
Jean-Pol Dubois	...	Belmont
André Penvern	...	Veraldi
Gilles Arbona	...	Lafitte
Jean-Marc Thibault	...	Leviner
François Chattot	...	Froissard
Elsa Kikoïne	...	La muette
Fred Ulysse	...	Le vieux souffleur

Also Known As:

Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexual content, nudity and some drug material.

Runtime:

100 min | Finland:98 min | Canada:93 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Duboicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | USA:R | Australia:MA | South Korea:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Norway:15 | Czech Republic:12 | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Company:

Canal+

Trivia:

Originally Daniel Auteuil was set to play Vidocq, but ran into a scheduling conflict when the movie's production was postponed.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Soundtrack:

Concerto for mandolin RV 532: Andante

Nightmarishly Beautiful and Brilliant

"Vidocq is dead!"

Thus opens Vidocq, an amazing film directed by Pitof, from a script based on Jean-Christophe Grangé's original and hard-hitting story, The Purple Rivers. In this film, legendary real-life convict-turned-detective François Vidocq, (Gérard Depardieu) lives again in 1830 Paris. The pacing and story are both amazing. Pitof and Grangé have done such a wonderful job of creating and establishing this horrifying plot, and whipping it up into a frenzy, that it is impossible to not get swept away by it. The cast is also amazing, with everyone turning in fantastic performances. A truly great film!

This is one of the first major motion pictures worldwide to employ a fully digital process in its making, including digital cameras. This adaptation has proven to be a lovely proving ground for this new process. Many of the exterior and interior sets and decorations were constructed by computer, and add a sense of detail and accuracy of time and history to 1830 Paris that would otherwise be impossible.

The special effects and fight sequences are fantastic, with many surreal nightmarish visions that will haunt your for weeks. There are so many amazing things about this film! For example, I've never heard pitiful mewling til I saw 'Vidocq'. Once you see this film, you'll know what I mean, and it will disturb you to your core. It's a film that is at once beautiful and repulsive. There's lots of intrigue, conspiracy, horror, suspense, mystery, romance of a sort, everything you could want from a film. See Vidocq!