L'inspectrice de police

I don't know what made me think of this film suddenly, as I saw it three years ago in the London German Film Week. The director was there, which added to the sense of occasion, and I remember being hugely impressed with the lead actress, who reminded me a bit of Emily Watson, not in terms of physical appearance, but in her honesty and lack of artifice.

I don't suppose this film will make many appearances on TV in the UK or USA, but if it does, I'd highly recommend it.

The simple hand camera both gives some almost documentary feeling to this film, and also relates to the dogma films.

Did you ever get bored of those hollywood-style cop flicks with brawny guys who get assignments james bond would be envious of? Fed up with the married-living-single cop, the divorced-but-family-man, the personified doughnut and the tough hunter? Ever wondered how the real police work is like?

Well, for germany, this film shows you. Set in the north between west germany and east germany, former DDR, an laid off post office clerk starts her job, fresh from policeschool. She quickly finds her way around the usual customers, and becomes accustomed to life as a policewoman... but this is not much fun.

Other german crime films like Derrick, Der Alte et cetera have dignified officers talking calmly with suspects. These cops here have to deal with the lowest on the social ladder. Good dialogue and realism makes this an interesting view, even more if you know that part of germany a bit.

There are many police dramas doing the rounds. I am not sure why. It's probably to do with the old basic theme of good versus evil.

This film has a documentary style as we follow the difficult initiation of Anne, a raw recruit, into a police squad stationed in the Baltic area. No attempt is made to glamorise the police. They are truly down to earth, harsh at times and unforgiving, Anne on the other hand has a soft heart perhaps a little more understanding of the human condition. Against all rules she sometimes holds back incriminating information found on her strip searches and other investigations.

This is not a pleasant film. Not one to relax you. There is not much feeling of optimism in it. The police seem to be involved in a losing battle. Tomorrow there will be more bashings, more murders, more family break-ups, and more distressed children. Let's face it. This is the world we live in.

As days go by Anne becomes more intimately involved with the police and with the families they are investigating. The only real warmth in the film is that provided by the character Benny, a 12 year old from a broken family. Anne has her own way of patching things up. She turns a blind eye to Benny's shoplifting and tries to help him as best she can. I was surprised though that she went so far as to seduce Benny's father. It set me wondering if it was in consideration of the father or her own needs. After all, the film makes it clear that she was desperately in need of a partner and loving children.

Well cast but not my idea of an evening's entertainment,

The film, The Policewoman, depicts poverty that every country somehow experiences in one way or another. Like other films that discusses poverty, it justifies that the deprived are not always bad and that they have reasonable motives why they do vicious things—that they are only victims of circumstances that pushes them to commit crimes. But what is different in this film is that the protagonist, Anne, is not the usual crime busting type of characters. In fact, she is somehow an ally of the criminals because she lets them free and then "helps" them change. She is not bothers by the idea that she is no longer a policewoman that should keep peace and order in the society alone, but instead more if a social worker who even takes care of an old lady who keeps on escaping in the institution she stays at. As if Anne already loses hope in the government that in her own way, initiates to change the society.

Anne is portrayed as an independent woman . She lives on her own and is supported by no one. She is free-willed and takes matters into her own hands. But still, it is seen in the film how she can be incapable for her job. Her colleagues constantly remind her to grow a thicker skin because she gets too emotional and too attached to those whom she encounters. She is too idealistic to find the good in criminals by helping them even off duty.

In the aspect of cinematography of the film, Dresen, together with Michael Hammon, the director of photography, is very successful in creating the appropriate mood of the film by the establishing shots of the high rise buildings and empty streets of the gloomy city of Rostock. The film has a documentary feel because of the grainy picture. Hammon also gave a more humane touch to the film by using a lot of hand held camera shots as well as tracking and pans. The film is very moving because of the abundant reaction shots which make the audience feel the characters' emotions.

The powerful cast even adds the success of the film. It would not have been as successful if not for their marvelous portrayal of their roles. Laila Stieler's screenplay is equally as excellent as all the aspects that made the film possible. It was not at all dragging nor boring. The film proves that social change is still possible with someone like Anne who still do not lose hope in our society.

Wow! I have seen so many bad low budget films lately, but this one is great. The very realistic portrayal of police life in a city on the East German coast is a strong contrast to other crime movies or series. I loved the main actress and the absolute rejection of any prevalent cliché about the police. This film is realistic like a documentation and entertaining like a drama at the same time. A perfect tradeoff!