A lazy detective, a defaced grave, and a cargo ship full of questions—French noir with a smirk.
Gabriel, dit Le Poulpe (The Octopus) is a laid-back private investigator who works on cases for his own pleasure. He is drawn to the fictional Loire Valley port of Angerneau, with his lover Clotilde who has been summoned by the police concerning the defacement of a deceased relative's grave. Since Angernau is her home town, she wants to leave it as soon as possible to avoid old acquaintances, but Gabriel stumbles on intriguing events concerning the cargo of a ship in port.
Acting
Darroussin's bone-dry indifference is magnetic.
Writing
Dialogue so laconic it borders on passive-aggressive haiku.
Director
Guillaume Nicloux
Jean-Pierre Darroussin
Gabriel Lecouvreur, 'le Poulpe'
Clotilde Courau
Cheryl
Julien Rassam
Transvestite
Stéphane Boucher
Taxi driver
Julie Delarme
Sandra
James Faulkner
Thomas
Jean-François Gallotte
Bar boss 1
Nicolas Jouhet
Jaguar driver
François Levantal
Assailant on the train
Bruno Lochet
Policeman
Philippe Nahon
Bar boss 2
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The title refers to Gabriel's nickname for his sprawling, aimless investigative style—touch one thing, eight more tangle.
Nicloux was part of the 1990s French 'cinéma du look' backlash, rejecting glossy visuals for deliberate grubbiness.
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