Vidocq (2001)

Paris, 1830: Vidocq is killed by a mirror masked man. A thief turned investigator, he was working on a case of men killed by lightning. 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:

To look into his mask was to lose your soul.

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Inhumanity
Composed by David Hewson
KPM / K Musik

User Reviews

A feast for the eyes, a pain for the brain

This film is visually stunning - it's almost like watching a painting in motion. Everything about the visuals, from the sets to the costumes to the lighting to the camera angles, contributes to a surreal and rather otherwordly, while still dark and gritty, atmosphere - somewhat evocative of Gormenghast.

The plot has enough twists and turns to keep you constantly guessing, and frequently confused: Is Vidocq dead, or alive? Were the murdered men victims, or villains? Or pawns in something larger? Are we looking for a mad scientist, or an urban legend brought to life? Is the political unrest in Paris related to the case, or just a backdrop for it? It borrows elements from both science fiction and fantasy as well as being rooted in the detective genre.

Now, I probably have a higher than average liking for twisted, fantastic, genre-bending movies that make one's brain hurt, but even so, there were some serious holes in the plot, or at least things that never really were well explained. So viewers who place a high priority on logic and consistency may find it a frustrating experience. But overall I very much enjoyed it, and some of the visuals will be with me for a long, long time.

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:

FRF152,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,240,767

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