My initial impression was the film was below par for its director Tavernier's standards with the despicable and dumb actions of three Parisian youths shown in the film. I had to revise that impression on re-assessing what Tavernier had done. The film was not based on fiction--it was based on the Valerie Subra affair that actually took place in 1984 where three youngsters mindlessly killed two persons after their robbery attempts went haywire without considering the conequences. The trio had watched Brian De Palma's film "Scarface" (made in 1983) 20-odd times on video cassette, dreamt of making quick money, with the guilt free attitude of the real-life US mobster portrayed in that film, and of migrating to USA to live a carefree life. Tavernier's film is not about the dumb actions of the trio but more a commentary of how films affect immature minds. The wonderful acting of the trio and Tavernier's overview on the impact of cinema truly deserved the Golden Bear for the best film it received at the Berlin Film festival. The film is another example of a film that needs re-assessment by the viewer on why the director made a film on a seemingly mindless tale on 3 idiots. The last line of the lead female character is that she hopes to be released from prison by Christmas so that she could spend it with her dad. That last line captures the immaturity of the perpetrators. Actor Phillipe Torreton (who played major roles in Tavernier's films) plays the chief detective/police officer.
Review of The Bait
The Bait
(1995)
A film based on true events showing the negative influence of a Hollywood film, also based on a true gangster
4 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers