Gang Story (aka Les Lyonnais) [DVD]

After making his reputation with tales of dysfunctional cops like 36 Quai des Orfevres, MR 73 and the TV series Braquo, French cop-turned-director Olivier Marchal takes a look at the other side with Les Lyonnais aka Gang Story, which sees Gerard Lanvin's successful ageing crook torn between flashbacks of his youth and springing childhood friend Tcheky Karyo from jail. Naturally things go horribly wrong, blood is spilled, the innocent suffer and long buried secrets and betrayals are uncovered.

Based loosely on the real Gang des Lyonnais and the memoirs of its leader Edmond Vidal, it's not as bleak or as emotionally gruelling as his much more ambitious MR 73 [DVD]. There's a somewhat melancholy print the legend aspect to it and the structure and certain plot aspects probably owe more of a debt to Sergio Leone's Once upon a Time in America than to the truth - something emphasised by the very much alive appearance in the making of documentary of one real-life gang member who is killed in the film. It's a less iconic or ambiguous film and it gets off to a somewhat awkward start as it moves between the protagonists' past (where Lanvin and Karyo's characters are ably played by Dimitri Storoge and Olivier Chantreau) and present as the cops and drug runners alike step up the pressure. It's at its best in the energetic flashback scenes as we trace Lanvin's 70s rise from learning his craft with a gang of De Gaullist thugs who commit armed robbery to fund their fight against the left and promptly try to kill him, his wife and child when he asks for his cut to forming a hugely successful gang of his own. The more sedate, considered modern-day section takes rather longer to grab hold, with much silent introspection before the stakes are raised enough to gradually become compelling in their own right. The end result isn't a classic, but it's a satisfying polar that's worth a look despite the familiarity of the material.

The 52-minute documentary on Entertainment One's UK PAL DVD is more interesting than most, dealing with the relationship between the ex-robber and ex-cop turned filmmaker as much as the making of the film, though it's the only extra, though the English subtitled 2.35:1 widescreen transfer is fine.

the film could have been very enjoyable if only the producers of the video had decided to put a proper sub-titles,not just a few phrases here and there.This really spoilt the viewing DONT BUY unless you understand FRENCH.and can follow the dialogue in its original language

Whilst the comparisons to Mesrine are understandable (it's based on a true story of the French underworld of the 1970s), they are two very different films. Set in modern day France with extended flashbacks, this is a film about loyalty, betrayal and revenge between former gang members. The acting is first class and overall it's a very stylish production with more of an emphasis on drama than thrills but with enough action sequences to satisfy. It's not perfect - it occasionally suffers from a lack of suspense and tension - but nonetheless it's an enjoyable film and I definitely recommended it.