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The Ax

Original title: Le couperet
  • 20052005
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
José Garcia in Le couperet (2005)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:32
1 Video
11 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama

A chemist (Garcia) loses his job to outsourcing. Two years later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition.A chemist (Garcia) loses his job to outsourcing. Two years later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition.A chemist (Garcia) loses his job to outsourcing. Two years later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition.

IMDb RATING
7.3/10
8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Costa-Gavras
  • Writers
    • Donald E. Westlake(novel "The Ax")
    • Costa-Gavras(screenplay)
    • Jean-Claude Grumberg(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • José Garcia
    • Karin Viard
    • Geordy Couturiau
Top credits
  • Director
    • Costa-Gavras
  • Writers
    • Donald E. Westlake(novel "The Ax")
    • Costa-Gavras(screenplay)
    • Jean-Claude Grumberg(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • José Garcia
    • Karin Viard
    • Geordy Couturiau
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Bande-annonce [OV]
    Trailer 1:32
    Bande-annonce [OV]

    Photos11

    Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia and Karin Viard in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia, Geordy Couturiau, Karin Viard, and Christa Théret in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia and Luc Bromagne in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia and Thierry Hancisse in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia and Ulrich Tukur in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia, Karin Viard, and Christa Théret in Le couperet (2005)
    José Garcia, Ulrich Tukur, and Karin Viard in Le couperet (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    José Garcia
    José Garcia
    • Bruno Davertas Bruno Davert
    Karin Viard
    Karin Viard
    • Marlène Davertas Marlène Davert
    Geordy Couturiau
    • Maxime Davertas Maxime Davert
    Ulrich Tukur
    Ulrich Tukur
    • Gérard Hutchinsonas Gérard Hutchinson
    Christa Théret
    Christa Théret
    • Betty Davertas Betty Davert
    Olivier Gourmet
    Olivier Gourmet
    • Raymond Macheferas Raymond Machefer
    Yvon Back
    • Etienne Barnetas Etienne Barnet
    Thierry Hancisse
    Thierry Hancisse
    • Inspecteur Kesleras Inspecteur Kesler
    Olga Grumberg
    • Iris Thompsonas Iris Thompson
    Yolande Moreau
    Yolande Moreau
    • Préposée posteas Préposée poste
    Dieudonné Kabongo
    • Quinlan Longusas Quinlan Longus
    • (as Dieudonné Kabongo Bashila)
    Jean-Pierre Gos
    Jean-Pierre Gos
    • Garagisteas Garagiste
    Vanessa Larré
    • Prédatriceas Prédatrice
    Serge Larivière
    Serge Larivière
    • Inspecteur Policeas Inspecteur Police
    Jeanne Savary
    • La présentatrice TVas La présentatrice TV
    Luce Mouchel
    • Mme Rickas Mme Rick
    Philippe Bardy
    • Edouard Rickas Edouard Rick
    Marie Kremer
    Marie Kremer
    • Judy Rickas Judy Rick
    • Director
      • Costa-Gavras
    • Writers
      • Donald E. Westlake(novel "The Ax")
      • Costa-Gavras(screenplay)
      • Jean-Claude Grumberg(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Bruno Davert, a chemist working for a paper company, is fired. After three years he's still unemployed, too much competition for the few job position he could fit in his sector. He sent tons of resumes, he attended many qualifying courses, he tried everything but there is nothing to do: no job for him in the industry. The only healthy company in the sector is "Arcadia", but joining it is just an impossible dream. At this point Bruno is desperate. What he could do: to kill all the competitors? Could he? —1felco
    • employment recruiter
    • immoral ending
    • competition
    • outsourcing
    • contestant elimination
    • 54 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Some people would die to get (him) this job. [Scandinavian DVD.]
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ads on billboards in the background were created by famous Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani, a friend of the director.
    • Goofs
      At the beginning, when Davert (Garcia) gets out of the shower and then immediately returns to the bathroom to vomit, you can see in the mirror that he is wearing an underwear.
    • Quotes

      Gérard Hutchinson: [When the interviewer abruptly ends the interview] I said to myself, lucky I didn't have the gun on me.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within (2010)

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    Everyone for himself and God against all!
    Costa -Gavras 's body of work does not lack in unity.

    Except for his two fist movies,which were thrillers , a romantic tale ("Clair de Femme" ) and a comedy that does not count ("Conseil de Famille' ) all that he has made display social and political concerns.

    From his early French classics ("Z "(He is alive) "L'Aveu" ,"Etat de Siège") to his American period ("Missing" "Betrayed" "Music Box" ) to his French comeback ("Amen" ) there is a cohesion which even André Cayatte ,his closest contender in the field,did not reach.

    And then "Le Couperet" .Don't be mistaken.It's not that much different from CG's previous efforts.Based on a Donald Westlake novel-a writer whose black humour was fierce- ,it contains lines Henri Jeanson or Michel Audiard would not have disowned.Comedy walks a fine line ,but it walks hand in hand with tragedy .You must watch it seriously to realize what heavy things CG is saying.While making his film verge on parody,he is also putting the French society in a less exalted light than we have been used to seeing it in.Suddenly our world seems frightening (the gas station man who hides a gun in his cash register,the icily impersonal female headhunter -I wish I had had my gun!-)It is really the society of the leave-you-behind and perhaps -I hope not - an omen of things to come in the future.I do not speak of the murders obviously.There are other ways of destroying a human being."When I saw them enter the restaurant ,the German ex-engineer says,I knew that I didn't stand the slightest chance ".

    The last picture has (and will be) widely talked about.Actually it reminds me of the ending of Mankiewicz's "All about Eve " when Phoebe tries Eve's crown .When you get to the top,there is nowhere to go but down.

    A film noir,a farce,a psychological drama ,a social satire and a movie where CG talks politics.One of his most accessible and one of his strongest works.At seventy plus,CG is as young as the reporter who bothered the fascists in "Z".He is abetted by Jose Garcia on top of his game.

    Like this?Try these.....

    "Extension du domaine de la lutte" Philippe Harel 1998

    "L'adversaire" Nicole Garcia 2002

    "Working girl" Mike Nichols 1988
    helpful•9
    7
    • dbdumonteil
    • Jul 15, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 2, 2005 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Belgium
      • France
      • Spain
    • Languages
      • French
      • Dutch
    • Also known as
      • The Axe
    • Filming locations
      • Boulevard Piercot, Liège, Liège Province, Belgium
    • Production companies
      • K.G. Productions
      • StudioCanal
      • France 2 Cinéma
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,885,946
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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