Lost Highway (1997)
Film Analysis
Director:
David Lynch
Country:
FR.
Year:
1997
Language
French.
Genre:
Crime/Thriller
Location shot :
Paris, France.
Cast:
Bill Pullman, Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty.
Based on:
Based on real-life cases from the Paris Police's Child Protection Unit.
Production:
Alain Attal, Mars Distribution.
Nominations:
Winning the Jury Prize at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and earning 13 nominations at the 37th César Awards in 2012.
Trailer of Polisse (2011).
Introduction.
I first saw Polisse (2011) a couple of years ago, and it has since remained a powerful and thought-provoking experience. Directed by Maïwenn, who is also known for Mon Roi (2015), this film truly captivated me with her distinctive directing style. Maïwenn does not shy away from uncomfortable or painful topics: rather, she confronts them head-on. Polisse (2011) is a raw and uncompromising portrayal of child abuse, a subject that is both deeply unsettling and incredibly important to acknowledge.
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For non-French speakers: the title of the film Polisse (2011) is a deliberate misspelling of the word 'police,' meant to evoke the handwriting of a child. Additionally, 'Polisse' is pronounced similarly to 'Peau lisse,' which translates to 'soft skin' in French, further alluding to the innocence and vulnerability of children, reinforcing the movie's theme of child abuse.
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Polisse (2011)
Story:
The story is about...
Story: development of character
Interesting storyline, that creates confusion and more. Who is this guy? Is it the same person? etc etc...
The Story.
The film follows a police team in Paris, focusing on their work in the child protection unit. Watching Polisse is challenging, as some scenes are extremely difficult to endure, especially knowing that the stories depicted are based on real-life cases. However, this is where Maïwenn’s strength as a director lies. She simply shows us the facts of the world, unembellished and without judgment, allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions. She doesn’t manipulate the emotions of the viewer, nor does she sensationalize the subject matter. Instead, she leaves the moments as they are - raw and unvarnished, and at times, even laced with a surprising touch of humor. This delicate balance makes the film all the more striking.
David Lynch' cinematography: some details.
I did see some similarities between David Lynch and Tarantino: the use of bold colours... The use of epic music, the use of 'randomness' in scenes and a touch of humour.
Lynch' signature style: creating an atmosphere.
Ok the most striking part of this director I would say is his ability to create this certain 'mood', this 'eerie', weird, suburbs, moody vibe, almost creepy and timeless vibe... How did he manage to do that? And what does he do?
Creating an atmosphere through pace of the movie.
What else makes this movie so strikingly good and how is he able to create this certain atmosphere? I reckon, because Lynch takes his time in the scene. He is not rushing anything. The pace of the movie is slow...
Use of Colours.
Lynch uses an interesting colour palette. I think that's how he creates this certain, typical 'Lynch' atmosphere.
So what are the colours he uses?
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- He uses dark, intense green.
- He uses dark, intense red (lipstick etc).
- He makes excellent use of shadows in the room etc...
- He uses artificial colours such as red etc...
Extreme close-ups: Lynch' signature composition technique.
David Lynch uses extreme close-ups I'm not used to in film: for instance the lips or they eyes... That's very interesting.
Love scenes: perfect use of soft, moody lights, soft skin.
Very original love scene that was quite captivating. The love scene was almost a beautiful photo. Nice use of lightning (artificial perhaps), but it works and adds to this atmosphere of Lynch.
Composition of the house
Lynch makes creative use of the house (an old 80's minimalistic house), he uses a wide lens and composes the images in an interesting way, wide and narrow horizontally.
Composition technique: filming from above and sliding camera.
Lynch uses several times the technique of filming something from above and then sliding down the damera, either horizontally or with an angle:
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- Scene with the car in front.
- Scene in the garden.
Another scene I particularly liked and why I think it worked.
The scene that I particularly liked was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0WDNdI2-lw
Another scene I particularly liked and why I think it worked.
This scene I liked too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPEYsazrKIw
Another scene I particularly liked and why I think it worked.
The intro scene together with David Bowie was good too. Intriguing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aepBpZ3kXek
Polisse (2011) - the dancing scene.
Polisse (2011) - the dancing scene.
Polisse (2011)
Notable Scenes: the dancing scene
One scene that particularly stands out to me is when the police team goes clubbing. There’s something captivating about this scene, despite its simplicity. The team, grappling with the trauma they encounter daily, seeks an outlet to unwind and decompress. Maïwenn portrays this with incredible authenticity, showing how something as ordinary as dancing can serve as a form of liberation, a temporary escape from the heavy realities they face. The choice of music and the way the scene is filmed amplifies the sense of freedom in the moment and emotional relief. The raw, spontaneous energy of the moment makes it, in my opinion, one of the most memorable scenes in the film. It's a rare, freeing break from the otherwise intense narrative, and I find myself rewatching this scene on Youtube, at least once a month...
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Polisse (2011) - the dancing scene.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0WDNdI2-lw : One scene that I particularly liked: good use of music, composition is interesting (angle from above) and use of striking complementary colours: green and red to create a strong contrast.
Notable Scenes: the argument scene
Another standout scene is an argument between two colleagues, which demonstrates outstanding performances from the actors. The tension and raw emotion in the scene feel incredibly genuine, capturing the volatility that can arise in high-stress work environments. The actors’ delivery of the dialogue, combined with the camera’s close-up shots, draws the audience deep into the conflict. You feel as if you're a part of that argument, witnessing the raw human emotions at play.
Polisse (2011), the argument scene.
Cinematography
The cinematography in Polisse is understated but effective. The film does not rely on flashy techniques or high-budget effects. Instead, it embraces a minimalist approach, which allows the story and the characters to take center stage. The camera work feels almost documentary-like, as though we are mere observers of the events unfolding in front of us. This approach gives the film a sense of realism, making the viewer feel as though they are witnessing real life, rather than a scripted performance. The actors, in turn, bring an authenticity to their roles, delivering performances that feel incredibly natural and believable. The lack of excessive stylistic embellishments makes the moments that do shine (like the clubbing scene or the argument) all the more impactful.
Another incredible scene in Polisse (2011)
"J'ai de l'empathie pour tout: les accusés, les prévenus, y compris pour ceux qui n'avouent pas. Même quand quelqu'un n'avoue pas, on sent, si il a fait quelque chose de monstrueux, c'est qu'il a reçu quelque chose de monstrueux. C'est qu'il a manqué d'amour, de communication".
- Maïwenn, director Polisse (2011).
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"I have empathy for everyone: for the accused, the defendants, including for those who do not confess. Even when someone doesn't confess, you can feel that if they did something monstrous, it’s because they received something monstrous. It’s because they lacked love, communication."
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Final thoughts.
For me, Polisse stands out because it confronts a painful and often hidden reality that many of us try to avoid or ignore. It forces us to engage with an issue that is uncomfortable, and yet it is something we cannot afford to look away from. By presenting this reality with such brutal honesty, Maïwenn opens our eyes to the lives of those who protect the most vulnerable, as well as to the trauma they themselves endure in the process. It is not an easy film to watch, but it is a necessary one - one that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll.
Interviews and videos to watch on Youtube.
Trailer of Polisse (2011).
Interview with director Maïwenn.
Another scene in Polisse (2011).
Interview with director Maïwenn.