36 Quai des Orfèvres

This movie was a little disconcerting for an avid movie watcher like me. This was partly because I realised who I was as a watcher… I see the big-picture, I see themes, ideas, and miss many details… especially in the first viewing. And the details I realised I needed to survive French cinema was a recognition of faces; which I couldn’t easily. For a long time in the movie I was trying to make connections with the plot, because I couldn’t make visual connections between the support cast.

That said, 36 Quai des Orfèvres was quite an interesting movie. It isn’t one of those ‘greatest films of all time’ but it is certainly accessible to Hollywood movie grown individuals while pushing the cinematic envelop ever so slightly.

I partly liked the understated nature of the entire action (including the movie). The film had a lyrical feel to it… it merged well from one scene to another in such a smooth manner that often it was confusing (for a person like me) to initially realise the differences. But there are subtle textures, differences, movements that are done quite well… quite engaging.

As for the story… well… it wasn’t too surprising. Yet, it was poignantly sad.

Some parts of the movie felt forced… especially for instance why the ‘thugs’ would ask “who was with you?” while beating up the poor ex-cop in the end of the movie (you have to see it to know what I mean).

But though the movie watching experience was difficult on many levels, I enjoyed having watched it. Some scenes/ideas linger. But mostly, the result was a sad sense of tragic loss… something found in Shakespearean plays. This was achieved I think because I only knew Gerard Depardieu and so… would obviously be ‘looking out for him’.

The performances of the central two characters were quite good. The women felt stereotypical. But the entire canvass, cast, music, direction etc… made for a fascinating movie watching experience.