We are taken to a police interrogation room where Hubert Verkamen, a man suspected of being the kingpin of the heroin trafficking in Belgium. Before, there has been a massacre in which professional criminals killed a family in a heartless and bloody fashion. Inspectors Chantal Bex, and her colleague, Jean Denoote, try everything in the book to pin a murder rap to the man they suspect was behind the drugs and the crime.
Behind the whole process there is a figure larger than life, Louis Chevalier, who was the one responsible for recruiting Hubert Verkamen, is shown in flashbacks as how he brought the man into his criminal organization. Verkamen, who rose from a lowly job as an income tax representatives into the head of the operation. In fact, Chevalier never saw it happening in front of his eyes.
This Belgian entry was written and directed by Phillippe Blasband, who created the right atmosphere in which Verkamen rises to the prominent position, ending up with everything. The premise of presenting the man trying to fool the police detectives that want to get him in prison. The two inspectors find themselves dealing with an intelligent man who rose from a low bureaucratic rank into one of power. In fact, Verkamen is wise enough to even try to implicate the third detective by offering a lucrative deal.
Where Mr. Blasband succeeds is in the formidable casting of the central character in the film. Benoit Verhaet does not make a false move in his portrayal of the hardened criminal trying to outsmart his interrogators. The great Phillippe Noiret appears as Louis Chevalier. Even though he is only seen in a minor role, his time in front of the camera proves why he was such a welcome presence in each film in which he appeared. Another excellent performance is Yolande Moreau, whose controlled approach to her inspector Bex works so well. Same can be said about Frederic Bodson's inspector Denoote, a man with a sick wife, having an affair with his colleague Bex.
Good camera work by Virginie Saint-Martin, who works in dark images that work well within the context of the story. The incidental music is by Daan Stuyven. Director Phillippe Blasband, an excellent writer, was making his full length film debut. He impresses in his first effort.
Behind the whole process there is a figure larger than life, Louis Chevalier, who was the one responsible for recruiting Hubert Verkamen, is shown in flashbacks as how he brought the man into his criminal organization. Verkamen, who rose from a lowly job as an income tax representatives into the head of the operation. In fact, Chevalier never saw it happening in front of his eyes.
This Belgian entry was written and directed by Phillippe Blasband, who created the right atmosphere in which Verkamen rises to the prominent position, ending up with everything. The premise of presenting the man trying to fool the police detectives that want to get him in prison. The two inspectors find themselves dealing with an intelligent man who rose from a low bureaucratic rank into one of power. In fact, Verkamen is wise enough to even try to implicate the third detective by offering a lucrative deal.
Where Mr. Blasband succeeds is in the formidable casting of the central character in the film. Benoit Verhaet does not make a false move in his portrayal of the hardened criminal trying to outsmart his interrogators. The great Phillippe Noiret appears as Louis Chevalier. Even though he is only seen in a minor role, his time in front of the camera proves why he was such a welcome presence in each film in which he appeared. Another excellent performance is Yolande Moreau, whose controlled approach to her inspector Bex works so well. Same can be said about Frederic Bodson's inspector Denoote, a man with a sick wife, having an affair with his colleague Bex.
Good camera work by Virginie Saint-Martin, who works in dark images that work well within the context of the story. The incidental music is by Daan Stuyven. Director Phillippe Blasband, an excellent writer, was making his full length film debut. He impresses in his first effort.