Accomplices (2009)
"Complices" (original title)

Both detectives on a sickening murder case struggle with being alone and childless in their 40s. As they investigate the young man found beaten and strangled to death, platonic friends ... See full summary »

Director:

Frédéric Mermoud

Writers:

Pascal Arnold, Frédéric Mermoud

Stars:

Gilbert Melki, Emmanuelle Devos, Cyril Descours

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gilbert Melki	...	Hervé Cagan
Emmanuelle Devos	...	Inspecteur Karine Mangin
Cyril Descours	...	Vincent Bouvier
Nina Meurisse	...	Rebecca Legendre
Joana Preiss	...	Esther, la mère de Rebecca
Jeremy Azencott	...	Nicolas Bianchini
Jérémy Kapone	...	Thomas
Marc Rioufol	...	Jean-Paul Tardieu
Yeelem Jappain	...	Belen
Eric Laugérias	...	Yves Cagan
Serge Larivière	...	L'homme mûr de l'hôtel
Anne Loiret	...	L'avocate
Fred Epaud	...	L'homme d'affaires de l'hôtel
Valérie Lang	...	Laurence
Jean-Pierre Sanchez	...	Karim

Storyline

Both detectives on a sickening murder case struggle with being alone and childless in their 40s. As they investigate the young man found beaten and strangled to death, platonic friends Karine and Herve unravel a love story between Vincent, and Rebecca a high school girl. The teenage lovers quickly plunged into the kind of amour fou the flics fear to chance for themselves. Rebecca is missing, and unknown to her, the boy was a homosexual Internet hustler. The ordinarily blasé male investigator is appalled to find that on-line dating is a world the sexy Karine knows well. Is Rebecca the killer, another victim or ?

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Plot Keywords:

love | murder | cyber cafe | investigation | homosexual | 

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Genres:

Crime

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Details

Country:

Switzerland France

Language:

French

Release Date:

20 January 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

Accomplices

Filming Locations:

Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tabo Tabo Films, Saga-Productions, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Reckless Romance

We begin with sexy Cyril Descours (as Vincent Bouvier) being fished out of a French river. An apparent murder victim, Mr. Descours was strangled and beaten. The nineteen-year-old is discovered to have been a prostitute, by lonely investigating officers Gilbert Melki (as Hervé Cagan) and Emmanuelle Devos (as Karine Mangin). As the middle-aged couple try to solve his murder, we see the drama unfold in flashbacks.. .

We meet Descours in a cybercafé, likely arranging to meet a new trick on his Internet sex site. When a recent picture is requested, Descours asks a nearby moon-faced high school student Nina Meurisse (as Rebecca Legendre) to snap the shot. Smitten with Descours, Ms. Meurisse leaves her number with the handsome young hustler, and receives his call. Soon, they are a genuine couple. At first, Descours tells his young girlfriend he is a real estate businessman... well, at least he didn't claim to be the Duke of Cumberland...

Descours is actually a prostitute catering to older men. Moreover, his only other long-term sexual relationship has apparently been with handsome young pimp Jeremy Kapone (as Thomas Moraizini). When Meurisse learns the truth, relationships change… Also known as "Accomplices" on the "Sundance" circuit, this is quite an engrossing, modern drama. This is mainly due to the fine direction given by Frédéric Mermoud, who cross-cuts well with editor Sarah Anderson and the crew. The performances elicited are very impressive. On the downside, there isn't much new ground being broken. "Complices" succeeds in the way it treads familiar territory with an illusion of originality.

Helping is the less flashy subplot involving Mr. Melki and Ms. Devos; they balance the younger couple by never actually getting off in the same way, and are thus made interesting on their own. There is also a good amount of nudity; some of the simulated sex is odd, but you can figure out what is supposed to be happening. It is interesting, and arguably regrettable, that the two "killers" who emerge during the story are treated very differently. Watch it. Think about it.

******* Complices (8/9/09) Frederic Mermoud ~ Cyril Descours, Nina Meurisse, Gilbert Melki, Emmanuelle Devos