The Serpent (2006)
"Le serpent" (original title)

Fashion photographer Vincent Mandel, in the midst of a difficult divorce, is suddenly being accused of rape and extorted. What does his former classmate Joseph Plender want from him?

Director:

Eric Barbier

Writers:

Eric Barbier, Ted Lewis (novel),

Stars:

Yvan Attal, Clovis Cornillac, Pierre Richard

Cast

Credited cast:
Yvan Attal	...	Vincent
Clovis Cornillac	...	Plender
Pierre Richard	...	Cendras
Simon Abkarian	...	Sam
Minna Haapkylä	...	Hélène
Olga Kurylenko	...	Sofia
Gérald Laroche	...	Becker
Jean-Claude Bouillon	...	Max
Veronika Varga	...	Catherine
Pierre Marzin	...	Carbona
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bernard Bolzinger	...	Jean-Paul
Alain Cerrer	...	Médecin Pompier
Catherine Davenier	...	Madame le juge
Ursula Deuker	...	Margritt
Ingrid Donnadieu	...	Réceptionniste Danalogic

Storyline

A ruthless gang led by private detective Joseph Plender is extorting rich people and famous fashion photographer Vincent Mandel seems the next victim. He is married to Hélène, daughter of one of the richest people in Europe, but not quite happily. In fact the marriage is on the brink of a divorce and a judge is deciding who will take the two children. Can Hélène take them to Germany or will they stay with Vincent? Vincent has a lot on his mind and he improvises when model Sofia Kippiani comes to his studio, but his makeup crew doesn't show up. Before he knows it, he is accused of a rape. Things go worse and worse for Vincent, he sees his entire life slipping away and, most importantly, he might lose his children. But why does his former schoolmate Joseph Plender seek contact with Vincent and even solve a nasty problem for him? Does Plender want something more than money?

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | divorce | detective | blackmail | murder | 

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Taglines:

Vincent's life is being destroyed. Now he must find out why.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official [uk] Wild Bunch [fr]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

10 January 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

The Snake

Filming Locations:

Asnières-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fidélité Productions, Big World, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Vincent's lawyer tells him to "plea guilty". Until 2011, in France, only crimes punishable with no more than 5 years of jail were subject to the "plea guilty" procedure. After 2011, it has been extended to crimes punishable with 10 years of jail. Murder is not one of those cases.

User Reviews

Goes off the boil!

For the first two thirds of its length, this film is a first rate thriller. It establishes the characters very well and you quickly become engaged in the plot, which is made very easy to follow. The acting is excellent,( in particular Clovis Cornillac as the malevolent private detective Plender). There are moments of true tension. Its definitely one of the most enjoyable films of its type I've seen in years. Then BAM - Vincent is arrested for murder and the plot descends quickly into the worst kind of overwrought Hollywood action flick - the kind of thing that Harrison Ford does when he's in his innocent man wrongly-accused mode (complete with implausible stunts). I was really disappointed as the characters become involved in a melodramatic pantomime. What the hell happened?? A superb thriller ruined in the last half hour!!! I have given it a six rating because I enjoyed more of it than not - had it not been for the last half hour it would have got a nine!!