Les voleurs

Thieves has received overwhelming praise here in Denmark. Part of the acclaim may be due to the fact that Thieves does not resemble many other films. For example, André Téchiné has tried to let the role of narrator slide over to the film's characters, so that there are three narrators in all, plus the film-makers. The boy Justin, whose father, the 'businessman' Ivan, has just died in mysterious circumstances, narrates from his not particularly knowing point of view. His uncle Alex, who is a policeman, tells his story, which begins before Justin's. So does the older lesbian philosophy professor Marie. It is actually quite refreshing and challenging for the audience, if only I knew what Téchiné was trying to say!

The film really does away with the simplistic division into black and white. Justin's father Ivan, whose business dealings were exclusively criminal, comes across as more magnanimous than his brother Alex, who has trouble hiding his envy of and hatred for his brother. Alex, the champion of justice, is in fact a cold bastard who begins a sexual relationship with the young small-time criminal girl Juliette, whose brother Jimmy works for Ivan. Alex gives Juliette nothing but hate-filled sex, and she finds warmth with her university teacher Marie, who, unlike Alex, is not afraid to show her love. Marie is the only one in the gallery of characters who can give without absolutely having to get something back.

When the ground grows too hot under Juliette's feet, she flees to the South of France. Marie and Alex agree to let Juliette go, but Marie cannot bear it, so she commits suicide. Alex, whose view of Juliette has undergone a change thanks to his time with Marie, tries to seek her out but leaves empty-handed when he sees Juliette thriving in her new life.