Les rivières pourpres (2000)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Mathieu Kassovitz

Writers:

Jean-Christophe Grangé (novel)
Jean-Christophe Grangé (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 September 2000 (France)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Evil rises to new heights.

Plot:

Parisian murder detective commissioner Pierre Niemans is called to Gueron, a self-sufficient, prestigious university in a mountain valley...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Mountain | Desecration | School | University

Awards:

9 nominations

Cast

Jean Reno	...	Pierre Niemans
Vincent Cassel	...	Max Kerkerian
Nadia Farès	...	Fanny Ferreira (as Nadia Fares)
Dominique Sanda	...	Sister Andrée
Karim Belkhadra	...	Captain Dahmane
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Dr. Bernard Chernezé
Didier Flamand	...	The Dean
François Levantal	...	Pathologist
Francine Bergé	...	Headmistress
Philippe Nahon	...	Man at Petrol Station
Laurent Lafitte	...	Hubert, the Dean's Son
Robert Gendreu	...	Cemetery Warden
Christophe Bernard	...	Skinhead #1
Nicky Naude	...	Skinhead #2
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Sarzac Policeman #1
Olivier Rousset	...	Sarzac Policeman #2
Françoise Loreau	...	Nun in Convent
Vincent Tulli	...	Computer Technician
Nicolas Koretzky	...	Computer Cop
Sami Zitouni	...	Youth #1 on Sarzac Estate
Slim Zitouni	...	Youth #2 on Sarzac Estate
Christophe Rossignon	...	Policeman in Station Wagon on Bridge
Dominique Bettenfeld	...	Policeman with Theory
Alexis Robin	...	Blind Child with Dog
Alain Guerillot	...	Skinhead Cafe Owner
Laurent Avare	...	Rémy Caillois
Olivier Morel	...	Philippe Sertys
Vincent Skimenti	...	Policeman (as Vincent Schimenti)

Directed by
Mathieu Kassovitz

Writing credits
Jean-Christophe Grangé		(novel "Red Blood Rivers")
Jean-Christophe Grangé		(screenplay) and
Mathieu Kassovitz		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jérôme Chalou	....	line producer
Alain Goldman	....	producer
Catherine Morisse	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Bruno Coulais

Cinematography by
Thierry Arbogast

Film Editing by
Maryline Monthieux

Casting by
Pierre-Jacques Bénichou

Production Design by
Thierry Flamand

Costume Design by
Sandrine Follet
Julie Mauduech

Makeup Department
Denis Gastouet	....	special makeup effects artist
Karina Gruais	....	makeup artist
Patrice Iva	....	key hair stylist
Jean-Christophe Spadaccini	....	special makeup effects artist
Nathalie Tissier	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Jean-Louis Bergamini	....	assistant unit manager
Sylvain Bouladoux	....	unit manager
Jérôme Chalou	....	production manager
Guinal Riou	....	unit manager trainee
Antoine Vierny	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Diane	....	trainee assistant director
Pascal Guérin	....	second assistant director
Valérie Othnin-Girard	....	first assistant director
Raphaëlle Piani	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Luc Compère	....	construction manager
Farid Kermici	....	storyboard artist
Stanislas Reydellet	....	assistant art director
Sandrine Magner	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Philippe Amouroux	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nicolas Becker	....	sound effects
Anne Delacour	....	dialogue editor
Michel Filippi	....	adr supervisor
Cyril Holtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vincent Montrobert	....	assistant sound editor
Vincent Tulli	....	sound editor
Vincent Tulli	....	sound

Special Effects by
Pascal Buron	....	special effects production
Pascal Molina	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Laurent Borenstein	....	visual effects technical director
Stephanie Boutinaud	....	digital artist
Nabila Daniault	....	digital grader
Fabrice Delapierre	....	animator
Yann Doray	....	digital artist
David François	....	digital compositor
Gilles Gaillard	....	digital grader: Mikrosimage
Christian Guillon	....	visual effects director: L'EST
Benoit Holl	....	animator
Krao	....	visual effects supervisor
Philippe Leprince	....	effects technical director
Jean Baptiste Lère	....	3D supervisor
Gaston Marcotti	....	digital artist
Nicolas Rey	....	3D supervisor
Julien Rousseau	....	rotoscoper
Agnès Sébenne	....	visual effects producer
Gaël Seydoux	....	lighting technical director: MikrosImage
Malek Touzani	....	animator

Stunts
Virginie Arnaud	....	stunts
Alain Barbier	....	stunts
Rémi Canaple	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Rémi Canaple	....	stunts
Patrick Cauderlier	....	stunt coordinator
Jean-Claude Lagniez	....	stunt driver
Catherine Robert	....	stunts
Dany Roca	....	stunts
Patrick Steltzer	....	stunts
Gilles Conseil	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Campbell	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Emmanuel de Fleury	....	assistant camera
Jean-Marie Delorme	....	aerial assistant camera
Patrick de Ranter	....	Steadicam operator
Georges Diane	....	camera operator
Bruno Dubet	....	key grip
Xavier Embry	....	grip
Guy Ferrandis	....	still photographer
Gil Fontbonne	....	key grip
Monika Jeziorowska	....	still photographer (as Mimka Jeziorowska)
Dominique Legueux	....	key grip
Sophie Lelou Mollard	....	electric intern (as Sophie Mollard)
Nicolas Massart	....	assistant camera
Yves Michaud	....	Steadicam operator
Vincent Muller	....	focus puller
Bruno Roza	....	grip
Daniel Savary	....	aerial assistant camera
Jean-Baptiste Thibaud	....	Steadicam operator

Editorial Department
Virginie Bruant	....	assistant editor
Sandro Lavezzi	....	apprentice editor
Yvan Lucas	....	color timer
Soazic Veillon	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bruno Coulais	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Michèle Andreucci	....	continuity
Pascal Brun	....	helicopter services
Audrey Mery	....	production secretary
Nicky Naude	....	fight arranger
Nathalie Vierny	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Gaumont (presents)
• Légende Entreprises (presents)
• TF1 Films Production (co-production)
• Canal+ (particiaption)

Distributors

• Gaumont (2001) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Home Video (GCTHV) (2001) (France) (DVD)
• Gaumont/Columbia TriStar Home Video (GCTHV) (2008) (France) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Columbia TriStar Egmont Film Distributors (2001) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• ECT (2001) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (VHS)
• GAGA Communications (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• GAGA Humax (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Pioneer LDC (2001) (Japan) (VHS)
• Tobis StudioCanal (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• TriStar Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2001) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• L'Etude et la Supervision des Trucages (L'E.S.T.) (visual effects)
• Mikros Image

Other Companies

• CNSO Studios  Czech National Symphony Orchestra, recording studio

Also Known As:

The Crimson Rivers (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence/grisly images and language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albertville, Savoie, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Vincent Cassel broke his nose while filming the fight scene with the skinheads.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflected in Max's glasses as he talks to the female alpinist before the descent.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Captain Dahmane: We'll touch base in two hours.
Policeman: Wich way do we go?
Captain Dahmane: There. Okay? See you later, guys.
[looks at Niemans]
Captain Dahmane: Can I help you?
Pierre Niemans: Got a light?
Captain Dahmane: Who let you through?
Pierre Niemans: Your men. Commissioner Pierre Niemans.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Smala Sussie (2003)

Soundtrack:

Virtual Skinfighters

Solid and compelling French thriller

The novel by Jean-Cristophe Grangè on which this film is based is simply one of the best thrillers ever written,in the same league as The Silence of the Lambs and Misery,and with the help of writer/director Mathieu Kassovitz(who was also supposed to be one of the actors)the author has successfully brought his masterpiece to the screen.

From the very beginning,thanks to the location and Bruno Coulais'unsettling score,we realize French people can make good horror thrillers: Pierre Niemans(Jean Reno) is in Grenoble to solve a couple of weird and brutal murders,while Max Kerkerian(Vincent Cassel)investigates a damaged tomb somewhere else. Soon they discover the two cases are connected,and the two men have to run against the clock in order to uncover the awful truth about what's been going on in the local university for years.

The book has been simplified(the first chapter is entirely missing,as well as some of the details about Cassel's case),but the movie manages to be very interesting,and the chemistry between Reno and Cassel is great.

Special praise for Dominique Sanda,her creepy cameo being the film's best sequence(Sissy Spacek appears in a similar scene in The Ring 2).

Only defect:why did they make the sequel?