SFIFF: Le Petit Lieutenant

We woke up again today with a strange kink in our neck, which we immediately recognized as the curse of our height challenge. Ahhhh . . . . It must be those darned subtitles we were straining to read (so much for several years of French class, eh). So, we are going to share our epiphany for those festgoers who struggle with the same height challenge. Sit on an aisle on the right side of theatre. No, not the right side of the middle section -- the aisle seat in the right section. Voila. Or so we hope.

Don't expect "Cops" or "The First 48" if you see Le Petit Lieutenant. That’s not because the film doesn't feel realistic. In fact, it feels very realistic. That must be in part because many of the cops in the film by Xavier Beauvois are real cops, in their everyday setting. We learned at the post-film Q&A with cinematographer, Caroline Champetier, who showed up in a long black leather jacket in the spirit of a "cop" film, that Beauvois actually lived among Paris cops for two years, who served as inspiration for the script. Several of them actually had roles in the film.

The film differs from the law enforcement reality shows that we would never admit to watching because it focuses on the officers themselves – as people -- showcasing the developing relationship between veteran cops, and the rookie, aka “Le Petit Lieutenant.” However, don’t be fooled. There are plenty of crime scenes, including a trip to the morgue – and the film is not for the squeamish.

Tonight's your last chance to seeLe Petit Lieutenant. It shows at the Kabuki at 9:15 p.m.

P.S. We also learned that Beauvois plays one of the veteran cops in the film. One clue: Look for the lizard.

SFist Wendy, contributing.