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L'Agression
1975 Crime / Thriller / Drama
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Credits
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Director: Gérard Pirès
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Script: Jean-Patrick Manchette, Gérard Pirès, based on the novel "The Shrewsdale Exit" by John Buell
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Photo: Silvano Ippoliti
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Music: Robert Charlebois
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Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant (Paul Varlin),
Catherine Deneuve (Sarah),
Claude Brasseur (André Ducatel),
Philippe Brigaud (Escudero),
Milena Vukotic (Le juge),
Franco Fabrizi (Sauguet),
Delphine Boffy (Patty),
Leonora Fani (Josy),
Michèle Grellier (Hélène),
Jacques Rispal (Dumouriez),
Robert Charlebois (Justin,
un motard),
Jean-Claude Andruet,
Daniel Auteuil (Le fiancé de Natacha)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 101 min
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Aka: Act of Aggression
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Summary
Paul Varlin is driving to his holiday destination with his wife Hélène and
their young daughter Patty. On the way, Varlin gets into a fierce argument with
a group of motorcyclists. The latter take their revenge by violently attacking Varlin’s
car. When he regains consciousness, Varlin discovers that both his wife and his
daughter have been raped and murdered. He turns to his stepsister Sarah for moral
support and help in tracking down and convicting the perpetrators of this atrocity.
Varlin soon realises that the only way to get the justice he seeks is to prosecute it
himself…
Review
Jean-Louis Trintignant gives one his most intense performances in this carefully constructed
psychological thriller. In one of his better films, Gérard Pirès
(director of the 1990s hit Taxi) manages to convey Varlin’s mood of paranoia and desire for revenge
with sober minimalist photography, effective lighting and well-choreographed stunts.
The final plot twist is the only thing that lets the film down, not because it is badly
realised, but because it just feels like a cliché that has been unnecessarily soldered
on to make the film cleverer than it needs to be. Apart from that, L’Agression
is a compelling work and a thoughtful portrayal of that very human failing, the
need for revenge.
© James Travers 2004
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