Banlieue 13 (2004)

Director:

Pierre Morel

Writers:

Luc Besson (writer)
Bibi Naceri (writer)

Release Date:

10 November 2004 (France)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Welcome to District B13 Welcome to the future

Plot:

Set in the ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop and ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb.

Plot Keywords:

Bomb | Neutron Bomb | Police | Ghetto | Drugs

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Cyril Raffaelli	...	Capt. Damien Tomaso
David Belle	...	Leïto
Tony D'Amario	...	K2
Bibi Naceri	...	Taha Bemamud (as Larbi Naceri)
Dany Verissimo	...	Lola
François Chattot	...	Krüger
Nicolas Woirion	...	Corsini
Patrick Olivier	...	Le colonel
Samir Guesmi	...	Jamel
Jérôme Gadner	...	K2 boy 1
Tarik Boucekhine	...	Yoyo (para 1)
Grégory Jean	...	Para 2
Warren Zavatta	...	Para 3
Dominique Dorol	...	Cerbère Taha
Ludovic Berthillot	...	Le gros mercenaire

Also Known As:

13th District (International: English title) (Singapore: English title)
District 13 (UK) (USA) (literal English title)
District B13 (Canada: English title) (USA)
B13 - Banlieue 13 (France) (poster title)
Barrio 13 (Australia) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, some drug content and language.

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Taiwan:R-18 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | France:-12 | UK:15 | USA:R | Germany:18 | Canada:14A | Ireland:15A | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Australia:MA (2008) | Netherlands:12 | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

MediaPro Studios, Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Europa Corp.

Trivia:

Even though Bibi Naceri co-wrote the script, he still had to audition for the part of Taha along with other actors.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the English dub, when the code is being typed into the bomb, Tomaso reads it as "D13", but types "B13", due to the translation of Banlieue as District.

Quotes:

Taha: So. Which one of you has a suggestion for me, so he doesn't slip away again?
[Thus shaking their heads]
Taha: [Shoots the first through third thugs]
K2: Wait! I - I got an idea.
Taha: Ah, K2. That's great. Go on...
K2: Well, since it was Leito who dumped all the dope then he has to give us the cash for it.
Taha: That's just common sense; I asked you for an idea.
[Aims the gun again]
K2: Wait! Hold on.
Taha: Go on.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Escape from New York (1981)

Soundtrack:

Hip-Hop Supermarché

Pure Adrenaline – One of the Best Action Movies I Have Recently Seen

In 2010, the dangerous districts in the periphery of Paris are surrounded by walls, and the dwellers do not have school, hospital and even police in the area, which are ruled by drug lords. In the 13th District, Leito (David Belle) is a honest man that lives in a clean building and does not permit drug dealers nearby his neighborhood. When he destroys one million Euros in heroin of Taha Bemamud (Larbi Naceri), the criminal abducts Leito's sister Lola (Dany Veríssimo) and the corrupt police arrests Leito. Six months later, the tough and honest Capt. Damien Tomaso (Cyril Raffaelli) is assigned to find and deactivate a stolen bomb that might destroy the 13th District and the two million dwellers. Together with Leito, they have to face the gang of Taha and disclose a despicable secret behind the robbery of the bomb.

The unknown "Banlieue 13" was one of the best surprises I have had this year. It is pure adrenaline and certainly one of the best action movies I have recently seen. The greatest attractions are the performances of David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli. I have just read in IMDb that David Belle is co-inventor of the sport known as Parkour, "which consists of moving freely in a natural area, including climbing on buildings and taking on whatever is in the way". Cyril Raffaelli is also stunt coordinator and stunt. Together, they are awesome, with amazing choreography that recalls Jackie Chan when he was young, and certainly are among the best I have ever seen in the cinema. The direction and the story are also good, hooking the attention until the very last scene. Just as a curiosity, in the beginning of the movie, the guys are watching a Brazilian soap-opera with Regina Duarte and Antônio Fagundes. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "B13 - 13o Distrito" ("B13 - 13th District")