BANLIEUE 13 ULTIMATUM (DISTRICT 13 ULTIMATUM)

France, 2009, 101 minutes, Colour.
Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, Philippe Torreton, Daniel Duval.
Directed by Patrick Alessandrin.

Banlieue 13 Ultimatum is a sequel to Banlieue 13 (2004). The two central characters, stuntmen Cyril Raffaelli and David Belle, also reappear.

The film opens with a speeded-up shot of a chase and summary from the earlier film. It then focuses on the year 2013 where Paris has become unwieldy, a district being walled up and various ethnic ghettos being established. The basic plot concerns a corrupt businessman trying to cause unrest in the district, disposing of murdered policemen’s bodies so that the locals will be blamed and there is an excuse for destruction. However, the two heroes are ready to do battle with the businessman. A young man has filmed the murder of the police and gives the tape to one of the heroes. The other one is framed by the businessman for drug dealing and imprisoned – but rescued by his colleague.

The corrupt businessman has persuaded the rather naïve president of France to evacuate the area so that five bombs will destroy it. The plot then means that the two heroes, the various gang leaders united with them, storm the presidential palace, make clear to the president that Gassman is corrupt. They also are able to stop the bombs – and there is a plea that the old area be brought down so that a new development will be created for further prosperity.

The film is action-packed, the two leads are very agile, engage in quite a number of fights – though the is not gory in its detail. The one highlight has Raffaelli combating Chinese heroin barons holding a Van Gogh picture in one hand – and David Belle shows an extraordinary ability at leaping around and over buildings.

The screenplay was written by Luc Besson, who produced a number of interesting films like The Last Subway, Blue, The Fifth Element but, in more recent years, apart from a film about Joan of Arc, has tended to write, produce and sometimes direct action shows like this.

1.French action drama? The basic plot, 2013, unrest in Paris, government corruption, business consortium, the need for expose, the building of a new district? All combined in an action show?

2.The Paris locations, the futuristic sets? The squalor of Paris? The bombs? The musical score?

3.The stunt work, the chases, the fights, the various set pieces, including the fight with the Van Gogh picture? The cumulative effect of this kind of adrenalin-pumping action?

4.The city, Gassman and his control? The government, walling up the area? The various ethnic ghettos? The conflicts within the ghettos? Gassman and his exploiting the situation, wanting the land for development? The end justifying the means?

5.The opening with Leito and Damien, the summary of the previous film, their work together, the bond of friendship?

6.The confrontation with Gassman? His framing Damien? The detail of Leito and his storming the prison and releasing Damien?

7.The role of the president? Believing Gassman? Ordering the evacuation of the district? The twelve hours?

8.Leito and Damien, working with the gang leaders? The confrontation of Gassman, exposing him to the president?

9.The decision to stop the bombs, to destroy the city in a controlled way, build a new district?

10.The importance of action over characterisation? The personalities of Leiter and Damien? Gassman? At the service of the action sequences?

11.The implicit social concern, social criticism? The ghettos in Paris? Ethnic difficulties? Hope for the future?