Les rivières pourpres (2000)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Mathieu Kassovitz

Writers:

Jean-Christophe Grangé (novel)
Jean-Christophe Grangé (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 September 2000 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil rises to new heights.

Plot:

Parisian murder detective commissioner Pierre Niemans is called to Gueron, a self-sufficient, prestigious university in a mountain valley...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Mountain | Desecration | School | University

Awards:

9 nominations

Cast

Jean Reno	...	Pierre Niemans
Vincent Cassel	...	Max Kerkerian
Nadia Farès	...	Fanny Ferreira (as Nadia Fares)
Dominique Sanda	...	Sister Andrée
Karim Belkhadra	...	Captain Dahmane
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Dr. Bernard Chernezé
Didier Flamand	...	The Dean
François Levantal	...	Pathologist
Francine Bergé	...	Headmistress
Philippe Nahon	...	Man at Petrol Station
Laurent Lafitte	...	Hubert, the Dean's Son
Robert Gendreu	...	Cemetery Warden
Christophe Bernard	...	Skinhead #1
Nicky Naude	...	Skinhead #2
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Sarzac Policeman #1

Also Known As:

The Crimson Rivers (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/grisly images and language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albertville, Savoie, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Vincent Cassel broke his nose while filming the fight scene with the skinheads.

Goofs:

Continuity: Almost at the end of the movie, an EMT is putting an oxygen mask on one of the survivors. Blood is visible on the mask before it comes in contact with the blood on the survivor's face.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Dahmane: We'll touch base in two hours.
Policeman: Wich way do we go?
Captain Dahmane: There. Okay? See you later, guys.
[looks at Niemans]
Captain Dahmane: Can I help you?
Pierre Niemans: Got a light?
Captain Dahmane: Who let you through?
Pierre Niemans: Your men. Commissioner Pierre Niemans.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Smala Sussie (2003)

Soundtrack:

F.U.A.

I'm talking about Demons, and you talk to me about the police?

Mathieu Kassovitz's film featuring the incomparable Jean Reno (The Professional) and Vincent Cassel (Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Thirteen) is a thrill ride that never stops.

The French countryside with the spooky houses is a feast for the eyes. Thierry Arbogast's (The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc) camera made this entire film a joy to watch. The scenery was complimented by the music of Bruno Coulais (The Chorus).

But, it was Jean Reno that brought me to this film. His Commissioner Niemans was just what I expected from him. He has a way that makes the perfect cop. That is not to dismiss Callel's Lieutenant Kerkerian, who was a perfect partner.

The story was definitely creepy with some graphic scenes of tortured bodies, but it was not off putting. It was essential to the story, which really had some extremely interesting twists and turns.

Niemans and Kerkerian prevail, of course, but it was the journey that was so satisfying.