Polisse
A visceral crime drama pulsating with the raw energy of Paris's streets, where handheld lenses capture the fragile boundary between devastating child protection cases and the desperate camaraderie of the officers.
Polisse
Polisse
06 October 2011 France 123 min ⭐ 7.8 (1,279)
Director: Maïwenn
Cast: Frédéric Pierrot, JoeyStarr, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Karin Viard, Naidra Ayadi
Drama Crime
The Burden of Empathy Juxtaposition of Horror and Levity The Fractured Personal Life Social Realism and Bureaucracy
Box Office: $20,374,201

Polisse - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Fred

JoeyStarr

Archetype: The Volatile Empathetic
Key Trait: Hypersensitivity

Motivation

Driven by an intense sense of justice and a refusal to 'get used' to child suffering.

Character Arc

Initially the most aggressive and reactive officer, Fred finds a temporary respite through his relationship with Melissa, but his deep sensitivity remains a liability to his stability.

Iris

Marina Foïs

Archetype: The Tragic Professional
Key Trait: Controlled Despair

Motivation

A desperate need for control and recognition, which she fails to find in her personal life.

Character Arc

Masks her internal pain with workaholism and high standards; she eventually collapses under the pressure of professional promotion and personal isolation.

Nadine

Karin Viard

Archetype: The Resilience Seeker
Key Trait: Toughness

Motivation

Maintaining her dignity and emotional independence while being surrounded by domestic chaos.

Character Arc

Navigates a messy divorce and professional friction with Iris, representing the struggle to maintain a functional 'self' outside the police force.

Baloo

Frédéric Pierrot

Archetype: The Mentor / Father Figure
Key Trait: Calmness

Motivation

Keeping the unit cohesive and protecting them from the bureaucratic 'sharks' above.

Character Arc

The steady head of the unit who must balance his loyalty to his team with the demands of his superiors.

Cast

Frédéric Pierrot as Baloo
JoeyStarr as Fred
Nicolas Duvauchelle as Mathieu
Karin Viard as Nadine
Naidra Ayadi as Nora
Karole Rocher as Chrystelle
Emmanuelle Bercot as Sue-Ellen
Maïwenn as Melissa
Marina Foïs as Iris
Arnaud Henriet as Bamako
Wladimir Yordanoff as Beauchard
Jérémie Elkaïm as Gabriel
Riccardo Scamarcio as Francesco
Sandrine Kiberlain as Mrs. de la Faublaise
Louis-Do de Lencquesaing as Mr. de la Faublaise