FACE DOWN/ TETE BAISSEE

France/Bulgaria, 2015, 110 minutes, Colour.
Melvil Poupaud, Seher Nebieva, Lidia Koleva.
Directed by Kamen Kalev.


Face Down is a story about contemporary criminals, especially in Europe, and especially in Eastern Europe.

Melvil Poupaud portrays Samy, a young criminal, caught with counterfeit money, doing a deal with the police to help them uncover prostitution rings. Reluctantly, he agrees.

The film shows him at work, the connections in Bulgaria, the prostitutes, their being recruited, especially amongst Gypsy women. There are some personal stories, especially as regards Samy and his concern for an affection for a young girl prostitute.

This is a rather grim film reflecting contemporary ugliness and vice.


1. The title? Criminal world? Sexual activity?

2. The French locations, the Bulgarian locations? The world of criminals? Prostitution? Gypsies? The musical score?

3. The focus on Samy, his story? French, the counterfeit money, his role in carrying it, the bags, the airport, his taking his bag, held up by the police, the interrogations? The deals?

4. Prostitution, Eastern Europe? Bulgaria? The Gypsy women? Their ages, characters, the men, pimps, clients?

5. Samy, undercover, going into Bulgaria, making the links, the criminal gangs? Their personalities, connections, activities, brutality?

6. Samy and the women, the young prostitute, 16, his relationship with her? Illness? Wanting to save her?

7. The complex behaviour of the women, caught in prostitution, their behaviour, their attitudes, the clients? The experience of sex and following it through? Revulsion?

8. The complications for Samy, with the young girl, with the other women, the resolution of the film? His character and future?