Agent Maïwenn,
Special Poliss

After watching a TV show on the Child Protection Unit of French National Police, actress and director Maïwenn (“The Actress’ Ball”) had the idea to embed herself within the unit, and to make a movie out of the experience.

In the film, police officers carry investigations on cases where the victim is a minor, e.g. paedophilia or domestic abuse. The movie has an exceptional cast: Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Jérémie Elkaïm, director Emmanuelle Bercot as well as former NTM rapper Joeystarr embody the officers of the Unit. Maïwenn plays the role of a photographer who has to take pictures of the team for a book to be published by the Home Office.

“Poliss” is amongst the movies competing for the Palme d’Or and other Cannes awards. What does the press has to say about the movie?

Daily newspaper Le Parisien‘s Pierre Vavasseur writes that the film is “an achievement and a cinema bombshell” mixing heart-breaking moments and a sense of comedy. Excessif‘s Nicolas Gilli deems Maïwenn heiress of Pialat and Tavernier with her “stark, funny, chilling object” and her “raw, pessimistic and benevolent look on our society”.

However, Christophe Kantcheff, writing for left-leaning weekly magazine Politis, regrets that Maïwenn gives a too good image of the police forces, being sometimes “dubious” in her portrayal. More enthusiastic, Jordan Mintzer writes for the Hollywood Reporter that “Maiwenn’s socially-minded film is packed with raw, visceral performances from an accomplished cast”. It’s not so sure that the director will leave the Cannes Awarding Ceremony empty-handed.

Départ en mission extrait de Polisse