Borderline [2015]

Olivier Marchal, the acclaimed French director has done his job pretty well. Although most movies based on actual events are naturally thrilling, the artists behind the story have to prove to their audience that investing time in watching the film is worth it.

While the story itself is enticing enough, the suspenseful scenes will keep you glued to the screen for the entire runtime. And I am glad I decided to watch it even after an average IMDb rating (6.5/10) — not very convincing unless your watchlist runs out. But after watching it, I feel like it should be rated at least 7.5 if not 8 (more than 8 would be too ambitious).

Okay, the movie— the story is straightforward. Two cops with the glorious careers are accused of abusing their power to fabricate evidence and take privilege from the underworld. Although those were “in the process” of getting intimated with the mafia to scour information, somehow the higher authority felt they have crossed the line; hence the acquisition. And the investigation beings followed by dramatic arrest and narrating of the events in flashbacks.

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Now, after watching the movie, I have a few concerns about the legislative bodies. Not too serious but, you know, they are just itching my mind.

Is it permissible to commit crimes to catch criminals? If so, who is the criminal then? The cop or the perpetrator? Or both?

I wouldn’t think about it unless I have experienced a similar situation in real life. In one of my posts, I complained about how drug dealers are lurking in our neighbourhood. Surprisingly, the cops don’t arrest them even after they know where they hide. And once in a while, they stage some sort of “drama” to catch them. First, they disguise themselves as buyers, then they take the drugs in front of the dealers to earn trust, and eventually arrest them when they “think” it’s time. But before the “right time” kicks in, they have already consumed/used the drugs multiple times. And when it comes to justice, it’s the dealers who get the punishments, not the cops who are also drug users.

My concern is, if the authority feels that they have lost their faith in those cops or they are no longer of use or too dangerous for the whole system, will the law rule it out as an offence? What does fair “justice” say about it?

The same thing happens in the movie. Although not very close to what I said, but thematically similar. It draws our attention to what may happen if the table turns. Also, it reveals how corrupt our system is even if they label themselves as the bearer of justice and truth. So many years in service with a flawless reputation can be soiled if the authority says so— what you did all the years to please the system may use it against you.

Very pathetic.

And that’s how the system is eliminating what deems to be a threat as a whole.

Welcome to the true story of two reputed officers who have gone the extra mile to do it the system’s way but at the same time, initiated a cycle that torments their personal life without mercy.