Mesrine (1984 film)
Encyclopedia
Mesrine is a 1984 French film written and directed by André Génovès. A biographical film
based on the life of Jacques Mesrine
, it focuses on the eighteen months following his escape from La Santé Prison
in May 1978 until his death in November 1979. Nicolas Silberg stars as the eponymous lead character.
magazine regarded Mesrine as "a pretty ropey, half-baked biopic", inferior to the later 2008 film starring Vincent Cassel
. Benefield criticized Génovès' "bland direction" and "lack of imagination", likening the film to a television production rather than a cinematic release, and noted that "the film fails to come to terms with Mesrine’s controversial glamour and celebrity".
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
based on the life of Jacques Mesrine
Jacques Mesrine
Jacques Mesrine was the most famous criminal in modern French history. He was responsible for numerous bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in France and Canada. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made international headlines during a final period as a fugitive when his exploits...
, it focuses on the eighteen months following his escape from La Santé Prison
La Santé Prison
La Santé Prison is a prison operated by the Ministry of Justice located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, France. It is one of the most famous prisons in France, with both VIP and high security wings....
in May 1978 until his death in November 1979. Nicolas Silberg stars as the eponymous lead character.
Cast
- Nicolas Silberg as Jacques MesrineJacques MesrineJacques Mesrine was the most famous criminal in modern French history. He was responsible for numerous bank robberies, burglaries, and kidnappings in France and Canada. Mesrine repeatedly escaped from prison and made international headlines during a final period as a fugitive when his exploits...
- Caroline Aguilar as Sylvia Jeanjacquot
- Gérard Sergue as François Besse
- Michel Poujade as Le commissaire Broussard
- Louis Arbessier as Lelievre
- Claude Faraldo as Charlie Bauer
- Jean-Pierre Pauty as Tillier
Reception
Film critic James Benefield of Little White LiesLittle White Lies (magazine)
Little White Lies is a bi-monthly, British independent movie magazine that features writing, illustration and photography related to cinema.-History:...
magazine regarded Mesrine as "a pretty ropey, half-baked biopic", inferior to the later 2008 film starring Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel is a Cesar award winning French actor probably best known to English-speaking audiences through his performances in the Ocean's Trilogy of films and Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.-Personal life:...
. Benefield criticized Génovès' "bland direction" and "lack of imagination", likening the film to a television production rather than a cinematic release, and noted that "the film fails to come to terms with Mesrine’s controversial glamour and celebrity".