A picturesque tale of love, life, and friendships
Melanie Laurent’s Freedom is a picturesque tale that is more about love, life, and friendships than it is about the art of heist. The film is inspired by the gentleman thief of the 80s French crime scene, Bruno Saluk, played by none other than the Emily in Paris charming chef, Lucas Bravo.
The film opens with the breeziness that defines Saluk’s style of robberies – quick, non-violent, and oozing civility. Bruno and his team rob a series of shopping stores, spending the rest of their time in a quiet French countryside with wine, games, and loving playfulness until it’s time for another heist. This continues until a snitch has Saluk arrested and he serves jail time, where Saluk befriends his cellmate. The two then saw through the bars of the window and plan an escape. Sadly, this friend is left behind, and Saluk swears to be back for him. Time goes on with jewellery thefts that have the police scratching their heads until Saluk and his partner break into prison, in their breezy, courteous style, and free Saluk’s prison mate, and their story goes on until another arrest and likewise another escape.
Freedom is a beautifully and artistically shot film that matches the charm of its protagonist with quaint landscapes of the French countryside to the 80s Parisian scene at the heart of the city. There are many instances where we appreciate Laurent’s vision for the film from the storytelling techniques, where in one, the camera rotates in a circular motion with a delightful montage of Saluk’s many robberies and escapades, not only indicating the passage of time but providing playful commentary on the incompetencies of la police.
More importantly, though, the film is deeply intertwined with its charming protagonist, who is the magnetic force behind it all. Bruno Saluk, apart from being a passionate but affable criminal, is more charismatic, courteous, and arguably chivalrous, his character enhanced by the natural Lucas Bravo, making him not only a delight to watch but easier to get involved with in his tragic but equally memorable story.
Further, more than a thriller or a film about the art of heist, Freedom is a film about exactly that – freedom in life, with our charming protagonist often lecturing the police officer on how much freer he is and feels in how he chooses to live his life. It’s also a film about heartwarming and passionate love between two people marred by the very freedom they choose to live their lives with. And lastly, it’s a tale about friendships, where the mere criminals always come back for their friends in need.
All of these qualities make Laurent’s Freedom and Bravo’s Saluk endearing, artistic, and appealing to viewers who enjoy a squeeze of life into a genre that’s otherwise action and thrill-heavy.
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Verdict - 7/10
7/10