(1979)

User Reviews

Review this title
2 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
6/10
Private Eye, Hard-Boiled and Soft-Centred
MajesticMane10 June 2024
"Enquêtes" (1979), a crime drama directed by Gérard Kikoïne and Michael Goritschnig, is a film that offers a decent dose of mystery and intrigue, largely due to the compelling performances of its lead actresses, Brigitte Lahaie and Desiree Cousteau.

The film's narrative revolves around a series of investigations, as the title suggests, which are intertwined in a complex web of crime and deception. The plot is not without its flaws, as it tends to meander at times, and the pacing could have been tighter. However, the story does manage to keep the viewer engaged, especially in the latter half, when the various strands of the narrative begin to converge.

Brigitte Lahaie and Desiree Cousteau are the undeniable highlights of the film. Lahaie, as the tenacious and resourceful investigator, brings a sense of authenticity and grit to her role. Her performance is nuanced and layered, and she effectively portrays the inner turmoil and determination of her character. Cousteau, on the other hand, delivers a compelling performance as a woman caught in the midst of the investigations. Her character's arc is one of the most interesting aspects of the film, and Cousteau's portrayal is both vulnerable and powerful.

The film's direction is competent, with Kikoïne and Goritschnig managing to create a sense of tension and unease that pervades the film. The cinematography is also noteworthy, with some beautifully composed shots that add to the film's overall aesthetic. However, the film's editing could have been more precise, as there are instances where the transitions between scenes feel abrupt and jarring.

In terms of its thematic elements, "Enquêtes" does touch upon some interesting ideas, such as the nature of justice and the moral ambiguities that often exist in the world of crime and law enforcement. However, these themes are not explored in great depth, and the film primarily focuses on the investigations and the relationships between the characters.

Overall, "Enquêtes" (1979) is a film that, while not without its flaws, offers a decent amount of mystery and intrigue, largely due to the compelling performances of its lead actresses. The film's direction is competent, and the cinematography is noteworthy. However, the pacing could have been tighter, and the editing could have been more precise. For fans of crime dramas and those who appreciate the work of Brigitte Lahaie and Desiree Cousteau, this film is worth a watch.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Brigitte: Queen of all Call Girls
Wolfgang_Rodenbach25 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
First the good news: this seventies Brigitte Lahaie classic is actually pretty funny (quite unusual as the French are not exactly known for their sense of humor). The bad news is that every single sex scene (and there are quite a lot) is accompanied by the same electric tune. But who notices the music anyway? Richard (Richard Lemieuvre) is asked to write an exciting story about call girls. Presumably he's working for the French Hugh Hefner or something. So, he asks Brigitte (Lahaie), his favorite call girl (who just happens to be, ah-um, visiting), for some inspiration. Seeing as she runs her own private club, Brigitte is able to tip Richard off every time one of her girls is on the job. Unfortunately, Richard is such a clumsy bumbler that he fails to get the story each and every time.

Brigitte runs 'Paris Tel 666' where three of her ladies are awaiting assignments: Karine Gambier (Ellie), Morgane (Marianne) and France Lomay (Carole). First up is Marianne, who travels to a chic château by limo to please a rich female client (Monique Carrére). Richard follows on his Suzuki moped but is thwarted at the gate by a large Doberman. He gets another chance as the limo driver (Piotr Stanislas) demands some service of his own from Marianne in exchange for a ride back. Silly Richard places his tape recorder beneath the limo, and it gets run over while he is off to smoke a fag.

After buying a brand new cassette player, he begs Brigitte for another tip. He learns the girls have the afternoon off and are at the massage parlor. After a bit of showing off on his Suzuki (ending up between two trees), Richard makes sure the real masseur (Domenique Aveline in a tiny cameo) gets stuck in the lift and takes his place. The two girls share experiences (with flashbacks involving the ever present Alban Ceray and Domenique Irissou). Unfortunately, muscle-man Aveline escaped from the lift and beats Richard up.

Another erotic escapades centers around Carole (France Lomay) meeting a client in a hotel room who turns out to be her husband (this time Richard dresses up as a bus boy but is distracted by a pushy American tourist). Next, rich Tony Morena is teaching his son about women. According to him, a man can do one of three things: marry a woman, take a mistress or dominate them. Having already hired Ellie (Karine), it is obvious the father prefers # 3. Richard is clumsily climbing up the roof, accidentally drops his mike down the chimney and is almost shot down by Morena. Why on earth he would want to record the sound of people moaning and groaning is beyond me anyway.

About to throw in the towel, our would-be-writer visits the Paris Telefon HQ, where Desiree Cousteau (as Desiree) more or less forces herself on him. Brigitte walks in on them just after they've finished. She's had enough of helping him, but not because of the other woman. She leaves to confess her latest, traumatic sins to the local clergyman. Somehow Richard manages to take the place of the priest and starts recording her unusual story. This last sequence is so weird they had to turn it into a flashback: Brigitte's latest client turns out to be a robot (though he looks more like a mime to me). It is clear that Brigitte is quite upset about the entire experience, but Richard simply runs off without giving her solace, elated that he's finally got his story. When he sits down to type it out, however, the robot's voice emits from his new tape deck, which promptly bursts into flames. Well, nobody said sex films had to be logical anyway.

6 out of 10
9 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed