Secret défense (2008)
Directed by Philippe Haïm

Film Review

Secret défense starts from an interesting premise - to show how the techniques employed by Islamic terrorists to recruit and train their warriors are mirrored by those of the national security services - it falls down massively in the execution.  Too slavishly enamoured of the latest species of Hollywood action blockbuster, director Philippe Haïm delivers a punchy, visually striking film that is all but lacking in substance.   This is clearly not the same Haïm that previously brought us the idiosyncratic black comedy Barracuda (1997) and the live-action Lucky Luke fiasco Les Dalton (2004).  Secret défense is formulaic, soulless and of interest only to those who derive a gutless satisfaction from watching mindless spectacles of violence.  Had more effort gone into the screenwriting, had Haïm shown more restraint in his offputtingly showy mise-en-scène (most of the film was shot with hand-held-cameras, and it shows) and avoided the needlessly frenetic editing, had the actors been invited to tone down their performances, then this may have been something worth watching.  As it is, it is just another shallow, self-indulgent action fest, clichéd to death and completely lacking in characterisation and narrative focus.

Film Synopsis

Alex heads France's counter-terrorist department, the DGSE (Directorate-General for External Security).  It is a job that requires his total commitment and it gives him no space for a private life of his own.  His is a private war against fanatics who are determined to overthrow his world, and like them it is a war he is prepared to fight to the bitter end, with all of the resources he has at his command.  In Diane, Alex has an exemplary recruit - a naive young woman who is soon indoctrinated into his methods and way of thinking.  Meanwhile, petty criminal Pierre falls under the influence of Aziz, an Islamic fundamentalist who believes that terrorism is justified in defending his religious convictions.  Without knowing it, Diane and Pierre soon become pawns on opposites sides of a deadly game being played with merciless intent by Alex and his terrorist counterpart Al Barad...