Saturated with seventies style, Marseilles’ elegant backdrop provides a proving ground for police magistrate Pierre Michel (Dujardin), and playground for his nemesis, drug-lord Tany Zampa (Lellouche).

The leads are eminently watchable in every (rarely shared) scene; their striking physical similarity emphasises the twinned fates of their characters’ mirrored lives. Dujardin displays his full repertoire, giving another career-peaking performance which flows from charismatic humour to dramatic determination, and is squarely met by Lellouche throughout.

Debut-director Jimenez has fused the thrill of the chase with the satisfaction of a noble crusade to remarkable effect, resulting in this exhilarating, fascinating, affecting film.

The Connection blends tense drama, upbeat humour and breathless action to depict the truth of this rugged underdog story. Welcome back Monsieur Dujardin, it’s a pleasure to see you again.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Jean Dujardin, Gilles Lelloche, Céline Sallette, Mélanie Doutey, Benoît Magimel

DIRECTOR: Cédric Jimenez

WRITERS: Audrey Diwan, Cédric Jimenez

SYNOPSIS: A French police magistrate spends years trying to take down one of the country’s most powerful drug rings.

A preview screening of The Connection (La French) was kindly provided by Picturehouse Entertainment, Altitude Film Distribution and Organic Publicity.