A French crime thriller that redefined the cat-and-mouse game between cop and killer
In short: Released in 1975, Flic Story chronicles the real-life nine-year pursuit of notorious murderer Emile Buisson by detective Roger Borniche. Director Jacques Deray eschewed standard action tropes, instead crafting a tense, intellectual battle of wits that humanized both the hunter and the hunted, marking a departure from mainstream genre conventions.
Based on the autobiography of French detective Roger Borniche, Flic Story depicts the relentless pursuit of Emile Buisson, a criminal who escaped a psychiatric institution in 1947. Buisson eventually became France's public enemy number one, embarking on a violent spree across Paris that included over 30 murders and 100 robberies. The film, directed by Jacques Deray and starring Alain Delon as Borniche and Jean-Louis Trintignant as Buisson, captures the methodical, often bureaucratic struggle to bring the killer to justice.
The film stands out for its focus on the psychological rapport that develops between the detective and the criminal during months of interrogation. Unlike many American genre films of the era, Deray emphasized intellect over brawn, a choice that resonated with French audiences seeking counter-cliché narratives. Critics have noted the film's sombre mood and the depth of its characterizations, with some comparing its stylistic precision to the work of Jean-Pierre Melville. While not universally considered a masterpiece, it is frequently cited as one of Deray’s most resonant works.
The production process itself was a significant undertaking, beginning on 3 February 1975, nearly two decades after Buisson’s execution on 28 February 1956. Shot on 35mm film across locations in France and Italy, the movie features an original score by Claude Bolling. The film also took creative liberties with the source material; for instance, the character Catherine, played by Claudine Auger, is a fictionalized version of Borniche's real-life wife, Martine. Despite the passage of time, the film remains a notable example of 1970s French cinema, praised for its unsentimental verve and honest exploration of the criminal mind.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Flic Story
- Also: Wikidata — Flic Story · CC0
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