French director/actor Maïwenn’s latest directorial effort, Polisse (how a French child might spell “police”), shows the inner workings of one of the Child Protection Units in Paris. Raw and occasionally unfocused, the film shows the gritty, unglamorous life of the squad as they deal with the dregs of humanity and the horrors inflicted upon the most innocent, as well as how what they see affects the officers.
Maïwenn plays Melissa, a photographer who’s been assigned to cover the unit. In a clever twist, we’re never told the verdicts rendered against the perpetrators — the police themselves never find out, since they rush on to the next case. A big hit in France, the film won numerous awards, including the prestigious Jury Prize from Cannes in 2011. Times vary daily. Through June 14. Sundance Cinemas, 510 Texas. For information, call 713-223-3456 or visit www.sundancecinemas.com.
Mondays-Sundays. Starts: June 8. Continues through June 14, 2012
This article appears in Jun 7-13, 2012.
