SLEEPLESS NIGHT/Austin Film Society

An incredibly well made action film ended our French Essential Cinema Series at the Alamo South Lamar last evening.  This is a cop film and one of the finest we've ever seen.  After seeing END OF WATCH this week and now this French film I am convinced these cop films (good or bad cops) are among our favorite themes.  Notes provided by David Chisolm (Chale's apprentice) were personal and informative and so we learn that the filmmaker, Frederic Jardin, is one who only previously made comedies.  And the star is a successful stand-up comedian who does all of his own stunts in this extraordinary physical role!  The French have never impressed me as particularly funny so this was an eye opener for me.  I have always turned to them for melancholia but tonight we were at the edge of our seats as a cop does everything imaginable to save his kidnapped son.  The audience was audible in their reactions to the cutthroat suspense of so many actions. And there is some comic respite in restaurant kitchen scenes where you can catch your breath.  But only for a minute.  See this film if you can and prepare to be drawn into extremely interesting characters.