FLIC STORY

France, 1975, 107 minutes, Colour.
Alain Delon. Jean- Louis Trintignant, Renato Salvatori, Claudine Auger.
Directed by Jacques Deray.

Flic Story is based on a true story, from a book written by the central character, the police officer Roger Borniche. He is portrayed in the film by Alain Delon, at the peak of his stardom in the 1970s. The film is the story of a criminal who was thief, betrayed by thieves, arrested and all his crimes examined – and executed. He is played by the other top French star of the period, Jean- Louis Trintignant.

The film is an interesting police story as well as a portrait of an actual criminal.

The film was directed by Jacques Deray. Deray had directed a number of crime thrillers including The Swimming Pool with Delon as well as The Outsider and The Gang. He also directed the sequel to Borsalino, Borsalino & Co (also with Delon).

1. The significance and indication of the title? Audience expectations of police stories? The success of this film in this genre?

2. The film based on a true story? The period value of the films Paris itself, clothes etc.? Did the film make enough of its period?

3. The focus on the inspectors on his feet at the start? the central character, the type of person that he was, his methods and ambitions, relationship with his fellows, to superiors? His relationship to Catherine? Her involvement in his work? His devious attitudes and shrewdness?

4. His attitudes to not torturing criminals? To doing deals with them? Was this better than torturing them? And yet the deals and the phone tapping led to the deaths of his contacts? The film's comment on violence and non-violence on the part of the police?

5. The Inspector's contrast with the central criminal? The revenge attitudes, their different work? Brutality? The character of the criminal and his leaving prison? His rival and shooting the man in the band? His organizing more jobs? His lack of conscience? His relationship with his follow criminals, with women?

6. The visualizing of the chases? Audience involvement in those? The editing of the film to give a balance between the inspector and the criminal?

7. The film's comment on the criminal type of character? Lack of conscience? His brother? The girl? The siege of the house and the escape?

8. Mario and his part in the robberies? The accident of his winning the criminal? The consequence of the phone tapping? The dinner sequence and his death?

9. The atmosphere of the brothel and the man behind the desk, his giving of information? The bar? The people there? The police and the criminal connections? The picture of the Paris underworld?

10. The importance of Paul, his wife's illness, his concern for her, the police able to make contact and use him?

11. The detailed set-up for the capture of the criminal? The dramatic build-up, getting the gun, the group's arrival, the meal, the phone call, the piano-playing, the final capture? The arrival of the Superintendent?

12. The achievement of this film in offering a police story and exploring police and criminal values?

13. The theme of police methods, pro and con? The value for a French audience? For a non-French audience?