Why a Mafia boss and his family were forced to hide in rural Normandy

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 2013 crime thriller The Family, a mobster and his kin enter witness protection, relocating to a quiet French village. While they attempt to blend in, their violent instincts and a trail of breadcrumbs lead their former associates straight to their doorstep, triggering a chaotic and bloody confrontation.

Directed by Luc Besson and based on Tonino Benacquista's 2004 novel Malavita, the film follows Giovanni Manzoni, a Mafia boss who snitches on rival Don Luchese. Manzoni and his family are relocated to Cholong-sur-Avre, Normandy, under the supervision of FBI Agent Robert Stansfield. The family struggles to adapt; Manzoni poses as an author, while his wife Maggie and children Warren and Belle navigate local life with explosive, often violent, tendencies. The family's cover is compromised when Warren inadvertently alerts Luchese to their location by quoting a mob saying in a school paper.

The production was marked by a unique casting process. Author Benacquista specifically requested Robert De Niro for the lead, believing he possessed a legendary screen presence that required no convincing. Michelle Pfeiffer joined the project to finally work alongside De Niro, while Dianna Agron was cast as Belle after multiple auditions. Besson, initially only the producer, stepped into the director's chair after realizing he was the only one who could bridge the gap between the American and French cultural elements of the story.

Critical reception was polarized, with the film holding a 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics frequently cited jarring tonal shifts and a disorganized narrative structure as major flaws. However, the performances were widely praised, with reviewers noting that the cast brought significant energy to their roles despite the script's inconsistencies. The film debuted at number two at the box office, earning $14 million in its opening weekend, and remains a curious example of a fish-out-of-water tale that blends dark comedy with high-stakes mob violence.

The film's production was a collaborative effort between France and the United States, with filming occurring in Normandy and New York City. Despite the mixed reviews, the project was a significant undertaking, featuring over 500 auditions for the role of the son, Warren, and extensive training for the family's dog, Malavita. Ultimately, the film serves as a strange, violent exploration of a family attempting to reinvent themselves while being unable to escape their own past.

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