A great film

It's hard to believe that a film this good has attracted so little attention on IMDb. No posts on the message board and a smattering of reviews, some of which are not accurate concerning events in the film.

The film follows one cop, Lucien Marguet aka Lulu aka Valium of Tears (!), as he is kicked off one drug squad for subordination and returned to being a desk jockey. Luckily he finds himself amongst friends and it's not long before he's back doing what he loves best - working on another drugs/narcotics squad. The new squad consists of: Marie (the team's Inspector), Dominique aka Dodo (next in rank and the wild card), Antoine aka Loopy aka Tonio, Manuel and Vincent. The latter has moved with Lulu from his desk jockey job where he was called 'Mr Clean'.

Lulu is a humane cop. He knows when to play it tough and when compassion and understanding matter most. He's respectful of his informants, whom he calls 'cousins'. His mission is to tackle the drug supply chain and it's personal because of a close friendship he has established with one of his informants, Cecile, who is a prostitute and user. Cecile is not his lover and is not his girlfriend either though their friendship crosses professional boundaries. Lulu wants her to stop using and his desperate bid for her to go clean is mirrored in his aggression towards some of the dealers and suppliers he arrests.

What makes the film so good is that it's a realistic and gritty look at Parisian criminal life. Populating the film are well rounded characters, even the minor characters such as Alimata or Willy and Philomene are fleshed out people whose purpose on film are more than plot devices. Indeed the many minor characters are immigrants from North and West Africa and the film serves as a sad commentary on their lives in Paris. Prevalent throughout is a fine and black sense of humour that makes the film's punchiness more incisive.

Although we are shown police life 'warts and all' this film is respectful to the officers who try to do their job. Some get frustrated, some lose the plot, others despair. Amidst this the serving men and women try and maintain their sanity and home lives, balancing demands as best they can. The film is non-judgemental of its characters whilst being very moral.

The title, L.627, is the number of an article in the Public health Code concerning the check ups given to detainees who are junkies.

A well deserved 9/10.

The distance is nothing. The first step is the hardest.