Face Down (2015)
Samy is a Frenchman accused of smuggling counterfeit money from Bulgaria to France. To avoid jail, he becomes an informer for the French police, joining under cover a Bulgarian channel for human trafficking. Gradually, he falls in love with Elka, an underage gypsy prostitute. Torn by the pressure from all sides, he almost turns into an unscrupulous pimp. His feelings for the girl will help him keep the last thing he has – his dignity.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
So much average
Great Film overall
Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Somewhat of a male fantasy that a prostitute will fall in love with her captive. Interesting plot in some ways, the machinations of the police and criminal underground are intimated, but the movie never fulfills the expectations in that regard. The hero is a criminal but has honorable principles regarding sex with a minor. Other than that, the character is empty. The ending is obscure (is he executed?). Perhaps I missed something, but I felt I was being led to something deeper which did not happen.
Just two words - Bad movie.If you want to spend 2 hours to watch a movie about Bulgarian gypsies and a french guy who is something like a criminal - OK please go on.But yes, it is such a bad movie that even do not have a story line. In one moment there is something like a love story between Samy and Elka which is sick - the girl is 16 years old prostitute and the guy is an old smuggler, but he was catch by the local police (somewhere in France) and they give him a choice - go to jail or help them with the illegal prostitution trafficking from Bulgaria. So we need to believe that the whole police and all authorities do not have even one agent who can do that, so they just get the smuggler and remove his bad background and put him in action.Also the movie represents Bulgaria like a place full of gypsies and all the people there do illegal stuff. Very bad and improper picture for that country.So as I said if you want to spend two hours watching a guy drives his car with a girl in it, listening chalga music and trying to be a brave man - OK go on, if you do not have time for this stuff - just pass it.
It was an absolutely marvelous film from beginning till end. The performance of the gypsy women was stunning. The camera was superb. And the realistic way of visual storytelling was not messing the film world, rather made the picture stronger and more influential. It has so much in common with the world's problems. The director described in such a magnificent and true way this people of whom we seldom think- all those women who don't have the right to think what they would love to do, because it has been decided by others. There are many connections with the Darden movies. This one is worth watching! Something different caring the signature of a new director.
Let's be honest, we expected far better then this dark tale talking of Eastern Europe pimps and hookers. I was bored all long this movie, I nearly fell asleep. Malvin Poupaud is maybe a good actor elsewhere - I don't know, I have no memory to have seen any of his films - but here he is totally wasted. His performance as a petty hood trying to deal with the police to undercover the Eastern Europe underworld is not convincing at all. Acting, directing and editing are absolutely awful, terrible, and not terrific. The screenplay is so confusing... Don't waste your time and money. OK it may be a first picture for the director, so let's give him a second chance.