22 BULLETS

France, 2010, 117 minutes. Colour.
Jean Reno, Kad Merad, Jean- Pierre Darroussin, Marina Fois.
Directed by Richard Berry.

22 Bullets is a distinctive gangster film.

Jean Reno, excellent as usual, plays a retired criminal, trying to get his life in order, outside Marseilles. He becomes involved in contact with his former partners, Kad Merad whom he thinks he can trust but who in fact has ordered the hit on him, and Jean- Pierre Darroussin as his adviser, married to his ailing ex-wife.

The film presents a strong picture of a particular gang culture, in the industrial deserts outside the city of Marseilles. Charlie (Reno) is sympathetic, lives with his son and his recovered addict wife. In his new life, he relaxes, listens to opera music, fishes, has cats as pets.

When the blood is spilt, it seems he is a moral threat to his partners and he is destined for execution. However, while twenty-two bullets are shot into him by a masked gang, he survives. He then goes on a crusade, avenging his attack. In the meantime, a sympathetic police woman, herself suffering from psychological problems, tries to pursue him, becomes involved.

The film gets more violent as it goes on, even showing scenes of graphic torture, especially of Karim, Charlie’s great support.

Charlie is shrewd, in his revenge he covers his tracks, and is able to elude the police officer who remains sympathetic.

The film was directed by actor Richard Berry who has a cameo role.

1. The popularity of this kind of gangster film? French gangster film?

2. The settings, industry outside Marseilles, the influence of the city, the homes, the wasteland? Rife for criminal gangs? The musical score?

3. The portrait of Charlie? How sympathetic? His past involvement in the gang culture, its crimes? His contact with his former partners, with Zacchia, with Martin? His confiding in them? His way of life being a rebuke to them? The motivation for the assignment to kill him?

4. The attack on Charlie, the shots, the twenty-two bullets of the title? The mystery? The masked shooters? The irony of Charlie surviving?

5. How well did the film delineate the character of Zacciha, his appearance, his character, his influence? Business? The contrast with Martin, behind the scenes, with the ex-wife? Confidant for Charlie?

6. Charlie’s survival, his transformation? The motivation for his crusade? The danger to his life? The danger to his son? The character of the son, the bond between him and his father? The abduction and the pressure on Charlie?

7. The policewoman, her own character, her pursuit, her relationship with the authorities, her attitude towards Charlie, her own anger and grief, supporting him?

8. The ex-wife, with Martin? Charlie’s sympathy?

9. The getting of the weapons, his tracking down the killers? The detailed aspects of his avenging crusade?

10. His friendship with Karim, Karim’s support? Karim and his family? The ethnic backgrounds of people around Marseilles? North Africa? Ethnic prejudice?

11. The torture of Karim, graphic?

12. Charlie and his success, the confrontations with Zacciha, with Martin? Achieving his ends? His ability to cover his tracks?

13. The finale, with his son, walking into the sea – and the new beginning of a new life?