Vidocq (2001)

Paris, 1830: Vidocq is killed by a mirror masked man. A thief turned investigator, he was working on a case of men hit by lightning, burning up. A beautiful woman was involved. After Vidocq's death, his biographer tries to solve the case.

Director:

Pitof

Writers:

François-Eugène Vidocq (memoirs), Pitof (screenplay)

Stars:

Gérard Depardieu, Guillaume Canet, Inés Sastre

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Paris. 1830. In the heart of the town, Vidocq, a famous detective, disappeared as he fights the Alchemist, an assassin that he has been pursuing for a few months. His young biographer, Etienne Boisset, decides to have revenge on Vidocq's death and takes the investigation on...

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Plot Keywords:

detective | 1830s | 19th century | steampunk | alchemist | 

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Taglines:

The underworld has surfaced...

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

19 September 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq

Filming Locations:

Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Box Office

Budget:

FRF 152,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,450,966 (France), 28 September 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

RF2K Productions, StudioCanal, TF1 Films Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First feature film shot with the new Sony digital 1080p 24 fps cameras to reach the screen (a year before Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)).

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Connections

References Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

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Soundtracks

Runaway
Composed by Clair Marlo & Alexander Baker (as Alexander "Ace" Baker)
Firstcom Music
Zomba Production Music

User Reviews

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!