Tchao Pantin

Devastated by the drugs death of his son, ex-cop Coluche is a boozy recluse in a grisly Paris suburb, working the night shift at a petrol station. Grudgingly and grumpily he begins to thaw out via the friendship of hang-dog drugs courier Anconina. When the latter is murdered by his employers, Coluche grabs his gun and goes looking for his own death as much as for revenge. Anconina's girlfriend (Soral) may change the picture; or not. This is Berri's stab at neo-noir, but his optimistic, rather sentimental heart isn't really in it. Still, Coluche - all tattoos, greasy sideburns and alcoholic slow motion - is effective in the 'less is more' mode, and Nuytten's rain-and-neon cityscapes have the right ambience. Alain Page wrote the source novel.