November * * *

November is a film I saw at the French Film Festival 23.   Like Paris Memories it deals with terrorist attacks.  I guess the French are finally starting to process these awful events through cinema.  Going by the language in this film it also seems they acknowledge the attacks were made easy for the perpetrators through a borderless Europe and unchecked immigration.  

This film is about the 2015 November attacks in Paris, when on the night of the 13th, a  group of radical terrorists struck three location in Paris at the same time.  Using bombs and guns they killed 130 people and injured 416. All innocent civilians.

The film doesn't show the attacks.  Everything is shown from the perspective of the police who have to follow up. If they don't see it, or hear it, neither do we.

Confused? Now you know how I feel.

As some of the perpetrators wore suicide vests they did not need to be caught - they had attended to their own demise.  However the police had still to bring two perpetrators to account. This film is set over the three days after the event and focusses on how the police hunted them down to an apartment in Saint Denis. 

All sweaty close ups and ringing phones and shouting aside it's kind of boring in the first half as they hurriedly try to piece things together.  Not to mention rather confusing.

It's not until the second half when they figure out a plan to catch the remaining terrorist that it becomes interesting.  Especially as a young woman "volunteers" to help the police. 

I went into this unaware of what it was about, so I guess I've only myself to blame for finding it confusing.  When a film is  retelling a particular event I prefer it to be so clear that no prior knowledge is required.  November certainly isn't that! 

However, after reading afterward about what happened at that time the film made a lot more sense. Basically it's a film for viewers that know all about the November 13 attacks. If you do, I think you'll find it quite rewarding. 

If you don't I'd advise you to go hit Wikipedia first.