What exactly do police do? They interrogate, for starters. Exhibit A: the work of directors like Pialat (‘Police’), de Palma (‘Les Incorruptibles’), Porumboiu (‘Policier, adjectif’) and Friedkin (‘La Chasse’, ‘French Connection’). But as well as straight cops, cinema adores a station-full of fucked-up flatfoots and brutal arms of the law (L’Inspecteur Harry’, ‘Serpico’, ‘Bad Lieutenant’).
Inside or outside of the law, the policeman is a key figure in modern cinema and society. This is best understood through the documentaries shown here: from Wiseman (‘L’Ordre Public’), Depardon (Faits Divers’, ‘Délits Flagrants’) or Zhao Liang (‘Crime and Punishment’). These themes and more are explored in this festival through 50 or so feature and documentary films as well as classes, lectures and debates.
Forum des Images, 17 October-30 November. The full programme is available here.