Mélanie Laurent (unforgettable protagonist of Inglourious Basterds) directed the very successful The thievesavailable on Netflix. An all-female action film filmed between France (Corsica) and Italy and inspired by the graphic novel The great odalisque. Which in turn refers to the famous manga (and cartoon) Cat eyes.
The thieves: the plot
Carole (Mélanie Laurent) and Alex (Adèle Exarchopoulos) are two infallible and acrobatic professional thieves protagonists of high-risk missions, at the service of Madrina (a wonderful Isabelle Adjani).
Tired of putting their lives at risk – one of them is pregnant – and their freedom, they decide to abandon their career. But the mistress does not agree and with heavy intimidation inside their glass shelter in between in the woods he presents them with the only alternative: to carry out the last mission, that is: steal a painting of inestimable value, The great odalisque.
To accomplish the definitive feat, the two hire a third companion, Sam (Manon Breschi), an intrepid ex-car driver, super expert in motocross. Once they arrive in Corsica, where the painting is kept, the three realize that they won’t have an easy life. On the island they will meet a supporting accomplice Clarence (Félix Moati:) with whom Alex falls in love, on whose head there is a bounty.
Mélanie Laurent (Carole) and Adèle Exarchopoulos (Alex) as the professional thieves. (Netflix)
Trying to save him will be one of the high-risk actions that will involve the three women. In addition to stealing the painting, the three have another objective: to go to Italy and avenge a rabbit, of whom Alex was very fond, killed during the intimidation raid in the refuge of the two thieves. Upon returning to Corsica, the day of the robbery arrives.
The thieves: a cast of beautiful and talented actresses
They are playing the role of the three thieves Melanie Laurentaward-winning actress already seen in Inglourious Basterds, The concert and many other films. Friend Alex is Adèle Exarchopoulosprotagonist of Adele ‘s life, Palme d’Or in Cannes. Sam is French Manon Bresch. The godmother is Isabelle Adjani: with a fifty-year career behind her, she is perfect in the part of the evil gang leader, with a streak of melancholy.
Isabelle Adjani is “godmother”, the evil gang leader. (Netflix).
The thieves: the review
The thieves it’s not just an action movie. It’s a film about sisterhood, female friendship and love. «With Le ladre I wanted to talk about women who know how to defend you from boobies, who have their lives in their hands, they are where they want to be, they don’t need men to be protected, but for this very reason they struggle to find men with whom to share their life”, explained Laurent, who had carte blanche from Netflix for the making of the film. «Beyond the story itself, the mission, I wanted to address other themes: what does it mean to be a woman today?»
The Thieves lasts just under two hours, time well spent. Without being a masterpiece, the film is well written, with a dose of irony, it outlines the portraits of four women without cliché or sentimentality. The film is able to amuse and entertain and doesn’t take itself too seriously in the action scenes.
Set in Les Mans and above all a dream Corsica, it is well played by the four beautiful actresses, the three of the gang and the godmother. It’s difficult not to identify with the three female characters who make up the band.
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