Les rivières pourpres (2000)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Mathieu Kassovitz

Writers:

Jean-Christophe Grangé (novel)
Jean-Christophe Grangé (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 September 2000 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil rises to new heights.

Plot:

Parisian murder detective commissioner Pierre Niemans is called to Gueron, a self-sufficient, prestigious university in a mountain valley...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Mountain | Desecration | School | University

Awards:

9 nominations

Cast

Jean Reno	...	Pierre Niemans
Vincent Cassel	...	Max Kerkerian
Nadia Farès	...	Fanny Ferreira (as Nadia Fares)
Dominique Sanda	...	Sister Andrée
Karim Belkhadra	...	Captain Dahmane
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Dr. Bernard Chernezé
Didier Flamand	...	The Dean
François Levantal	...	Pathologist
Francine Bergé	...	Headmistress
Philippe Nahon	...	Man at Petrol Station
Laurent Lafitte	...	Hubert, the Dean's Son
Robert Gendreu	...	Cemetery Warden
Christophe Bernard	...	Skinhead #1
Nicky Naude	...	Skinhead #2
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Sarzac Policeman #1

Also Known As:

The Crimson Rivers (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/grisly images and language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albertville, Savoie, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Vincent Cassel broke his nose while filming the fight scene with the skinheads.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflected in Max's glasses as he talks to the female alpinist before the descent.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Dahmane: We'll touch base in two hours.
Policeman: Wich way do we go?
Captain Dahmane: There. Okay? See you later, guys.
[looks at Niemans]
Captain Dahmane: Can I help you?
Pierre Niemans: Got a light?
Captain Dahmane: Who let you through?
Pierre Niemans: Your men. Commissioner Pierre Niemans.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Smala Sussie (2003)

Soundtrack:

Virtual Skinfighters

Great Movie, But With a Deceptive Conclusion

In Guernon, an isolated mountain area where the local University rules the town, the Chief Inspector Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) arrives from Paris to investigate a hideous crime, when the victim was tortured and mutilated before dying. Meanwhile, Detective Max Kerkerian (Vincent Cassel) comes to the same place, following the investigation of a profaned tomb of a young girl. They join forces and find a plot of eugenics in the University, with abductions, murders and revenge.

Yesterday I saw this great movie again, trying to find some answers to questions I raised the first time I saw it four years ago. Unfortunately, they have no explanations along the story. "Les Rivières Pourpres" has magnificent locations, maybe the most beautiful landscapes I have seen in a crime movie. The cast is outstanding, highlighting the charismatic Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. However, the screenplay has flaws and presents a deceptive conclusion. My questions are: (1) If Judith was kidnapped in the nursery of the hospital, exchanged by the daughter of another person, what happened to the other child? (2) Who raised Judith, if her mother got crazy and went to a dark cell in a convent? (3) If her mother knew where her other daughter was, why didn't she go to the French justice and fight to retrieve the child? (4) How Judith found and approached Fanny? Anyway, usually worths watching serial killer stories and this one is very above the average. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Rio Vermelhos" ("Red Rivers")