“November”, the hard-hitting thriller by Cédric Jimenez on the attacks of November 13, 2015

Screened at Cannes last May out of competition, Novemberon the investigation of the Parisian attacks of November 13 2015, follows shortly on the screens See Paris again by Alice Winocour, who addressed the psychological repercussions of these same attacks that killed 130 people. For the second time after North ferry, Cédric Gimenez directs a thriller inspired by real events. This time, he reconstructs the incredible investigation that led to the arrest or death of the perpetrators of the massacre that traumatized France.

Paris, November 13, 2015: the police learn that a series of attacks have just targeted the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, café terraces in the 10th and 11th arrondissements of Paris and the concert hall le Bataclan. All police services are monopolized to prevent Islamist terrorists from leaving Paris, in vain. The testimony of a young Muslim will be the key to finding the murderers.

As in North ferry, Cédric Jimenez puts pressure on us from the first scene not to let go. His nervous camera and cutter editing are devilishly efficient. Its cast is sensational: Jean Dujardin as the right arm of the head of the anti-terrorist unit, played by Sandrine Kiberlain, and Anaïs Demoustier, as an investigator at the heart of the system.

Cédric Jimenez puts on the table without complacency the meanders of a complicated investigation, which will go back to Belgium, with the dysfunctions and false leads which parasitize the investigation. He points to human errors and a lack of communication between the services. The director’s method is to base his film on solid documentation and to extract a captivating dramaturgy from it. His characters are well identified, embodied by invested actors, his spectacular staging supported by a dynamic editing.

Contrary to North ferry, November does not dwell on the private life of its protagonists. The story here is less individual or local, with a national or even international dimension. Cédric Jimenez avoids showing the attacks, he focuses on the urgency of arresting the criminals who foment other actions and draws a breathless suspense from it.

Gender : Policeman
Director: Cedric Jimenez
Actors: Jean Dujardin, Anaïs Demoustier, Sandrine Kiberlain, Jérémie Renier, Lyna Khoudri, Cédric Khan
Country : France
Duration : 1h45
Exit : October 5, 2022
Distributer : StudioCanal

Summary: A dive into the heart of anti-terrorism during the 5 days of investigation that followed the attacks of November 13.