A DECENT MAN/ JE NE SUIS PAS UN SALAUD

France, 2015, 111 minutes, Colour.
Nicolas Duvauchelle, Melanie Thierry, Driss Ramdi.
Directed by Emmanuel Finkel.



There is an ambiguity in both the original French title and the English title for this film. If the character declares that he is not a bastard, then, as we watch him in his behaviour, we see that he really is or can be a bastard. On the other hand, with the English title, and the seeming statement that he is decent, there is a presumption that he is – although, all in all, he is not.

Nicholas Duvauchelle portrays Edouard, and ordinary man, out of a job, alienated from his wife, having visiting rights for his son, going to a course on approaching companies but really not interested.

He experiences a crisis when he stops to confront some young men stealing in a car and is attacked, especially by an adult wearing a hood, is bashed and stabbed. He finds himself in hospital in a dire condition. He is interrogated by the police who have rounded up some men for a lineup including an Arab man whom the audience has previously seen in a training film during the course. Edouard identifies him as the attacker.

As a consequence of the attack, Edouard is reconciled with his wife and returns home, gets a job with the company that she works for, is dissatisfied, begins drinking again. The police continue to question him and he goes to court.

He goes to a gun range, brings a gun home, his son fires it accidentally and his exasperated wife ousts him. In the court, he declares that he has lied about the identity of the man he identified.

The finale of the film is quite desperate, Edouard going to the company showroom, overturning furniture, causing mayhem, confronted by his boss and shooting him.

A grim picture of difficulties in contemporary life.



1. A grim picture of contemporary working life, family life, justice systems?

2. The city settings, apartments and streets, bars, workplaces, offices, police precincts, courts? The musical score?

3. The title, the original French and the fact that Edouard could be a bastard? In what ways was he a decent man?

4. The introduction to Edouard, wandering, drinking, the course and the filming of the techniques of approach, Edouard and his participation? The irony of the man on the film – and his later being identified as the attacker?

5. Edouard, estrangement from his wife, the reasons? His relationship with his son? Going out with him, companionship, discipline, his whims and decisions, his son wanting him to go to the movies, their going? Getting him home?

6. Edouard in the bar, chatting, drinking? On the street, with the girl, seeing the young men in the car, robbery? His confrontation, the older men, the hoodie, the fight, the stabbing, Edouard left on the road?

7. In hospital, his injuries, the treatment? The police investigation? His statements?

8. His return home, a reconciliation with his wife, life at home, her working, talking with the boss, his getting a job, the forklift, his not liking the job? Tension at home? Relationship with his son?

9. The police, apprehending the man in his car, the men lined up, Edouard identifying the man? Further interrogation, the charges? His certainty, saying that he recognised the man?

10. The consequences, the work with the police, going to court, the man’s denials? His reaffirming his statement?

11. Tensions at home, at work, drinking, the clash with the boss? His wife’s exasperation?

12. The reasons for his changing his testimony, going to the court? The man being freed, the months of being charged and being held? The role of the lawyers?

13. Edouard, his mental and moral collapse, his interest in guns, the gun in the house and his son accidentally firing it, his wife’s reaction? Edouard and his going to the shooting range?

14. Going to the warehouse, overturning the furniture, causing mayhem, the gun, the boss and his killing him?

15. The mental and moral collapse of an ordinary man?