2023-11-03 17:18:00
Long live women! The film Thieves, first production by Mélanie Laurent for Netflix, puts the spotlight on the fairer sex. After the very dark Fools’ Ball (broadcast in 2021 on Prime Video, based on the novel by Victoria Mas), which denounced the treatment of women within a “hysterics ward” of a neurological clinic in the 19th century, the actress-director oscillates this between comedy, drama and action film to address the very current theme of “sisterhood”. A clever mix of genres for a film celebrating “women’s freedom”, as the person concerned recognizes.
Adaptation of the comic strip The Great Odalisque by Jérôme Mulot, Florent Ruppert and Bastien Vivès, itself inspired by the cult film Cat’s Eyes de Tsukasa Hôjô, Thieves, available since November 1, follows the journey of a powerful female duo, Alex (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and Carole (Mélanie Laurent), a couple of burglars addicted to adrenaline, who carry out risky missions to steal objects of great value on behalf of “the godmother”, played by Isabelle Adjani. Wishing to escape the clutches of their “boss” and lead a more peaceful life, our heroines accept one last blow in Corsica: steal the painting The Great Odalisque by Martial Raysse. For this final heist on the island of beauty, Alex and Carole recruit an accomplice, an outstanding driver and a few years younger: the introvert Sam, played by Manon Bresch (known for having played Thérèse for four years in the soap opera More beautiful life).
On a canvas that is certainly a little telephonic but effective, Mélanie Laurent thus accomplishes the feat of staging and bringing into dialogue four actresses from different generations, from the oldest Isabelle Adjani to the junior Manon Bresh. The graft takes rather well, particularly the relationship between the characters of Mélanie Laurent and Adèle Exarchopoulos, even if certain aspects of the film’s plot leave us a little perplexed. If the humorous outbursts of the dialogues and situations are rather successful, they multiply a little too much for our taste and cannibalize the plot.
Thieves or sisterhood celebration
The banter of Adèle Exarchopoulos fortunately makes the pill go away and we take pleasure in seeing this entertainment at the crossroads of Totally Spies, Thelma et Louise, et Mission Impossible, where daily female worries alternate with scenes of murder and other violent fights. The feminist and feminine fiber, dear to Mélanie Laurent, runs through this light thriller where three super-women fight against men on behalf of another woman: a somewhat crude treatment where the male characters are saved at the last minute by Philippe Katherine, irresistible as a fixer providing logistical support to the trio, under the guise of a hot dog seller. We will also note the remarkable performance of Félix Moati as a slightly perched arms dealer, who makes eyes at Adèle Exarchopoulos. ALSO READ Isabelle Adjani: “Once again, I am being taken as a scapegoat” Concluded with an unconvincing, even lazy final twist, the film also remains curiously modest about the exact nature of the relationship between Alex and Carole: lovers or friends, difficult to decide as it all remains so platonic. According to the statements of the actresses, the two partners are above all soul mates.
The alchemy of the Adèle Exarchopoulos-Mélanie Laurent tandem works: unfiltered and impulsive, Alex gets along wonderfully with the wiser and more cerebral Carole, including in their verbal jousts, to the great pleasure of the viewer. Collateral victim of this pair of friends at the top of the poster, Manon Bresch struggles a little to exist next to our two thieves. In short, despite a somewhat caricatured plot, all the actors in this offbeat thriller are fair enough to keep us in front of our screen until the end credits.
Thieves, by Mélanie Laurent. Available on Netflix since November 1.
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