November: A movie review by Alex First
On 13th November 2015, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks took place in Paris and the city’s northern suburb, Saint-Denis. 130 people were killed, and 416 injured.
France was already on high alert after two gunmen attacked the headquarters of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on 7th January that year. That resulted in 12 deaths and 11 wounded.
November is the tension-filled story of the five days that followed the 13th November attacks and the anti-terrorist police’s attempt to track down those involved.
Suffice to say, nerves were frayed. Time was of the essence because those questioned made it clear this was only the start of a bloody campaign by ISIS.
The film focuses on the lead investigators of the French anti-terrorism services.
All the characters’ names, except those of the terrorists, are fictitious.
Among them is Heloise (Sandrine Kiberlain), under pressure from the Minister’s office and her chief commander Fred (Jean Dujardin), intense and driven.
So, too, a captain – Ines Moreau (Anais Demoustier) – who steps outside the rules of protocol and then has a lot of making up to do.
Another figure of note is a civilian informant Samia (Lyna Khoudri), who risks her life for the greater good, but that comes at a considerable cost.
November has been co-written (with Olivier Demangel) and is directed by Cedric Jimenez.
It provides insight into the desperation, determination and dedication that surrounded the days following the attacks.
The angst and tension are palpable throughout and the performances and cinematography are strong.
There are so many leads to chase up. Many, of course, turn out to be red herrings.
Of course, the more time that elapses, the more the weight of expectation builds. The frustration and the toll that it takes on people on the ground is evident.
But this is a large jigsaw puzzle with global tentacles.
Jean Dujardin is an authoritative and compelling commander that demands total commitment.
As the captain, Anais Demoustier works on gut instinct and feels deeply.
Lyna Khoudri plays a pivotal role as a good Samaritan who you can’t help but empathise with.
What also stands out is the fine attention to detail captured by cinematographer Nicolas Loir.
The production values are strong throughout, but given the nature of the plot, November requires concentration to follow all the threads.
I felt quite wrung out by the end of the film, which – I dare say – was exactly what the filmmakers were seeking.
Rated M, November scores an 8 out of 10. Runtime -107 minutes.
