Is free on Amazon worth it? We’ve seen Melanie Laurent’s new take on ’80s Public Enemy No. 1!

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Inspired by real events, the film takes us into the turbulent wave of Bruno Sulak, the real Arsene Lupine of the 20th century. A fierce robber, a loyal friend, an icon of freedom, Bruno Sulak left his mark on the history of banditry with the non-violent robbery of many jewelry stores.

Although actively sought after by George Moreas, a non-conformist police commissioner both tough and perceptive, Sulak managed to escape from prison several times to find Tali, his lover and accomplice, becoming public enemy number one since the 80s.

who is he with

We found her in 2020 in the very stylish Netflix series Emily in Paris, where she plays a newly minted chef. Lucas Bravo slips into the shoes of Bruno Sullac, a role tailored for him as he was the only choice of his director, Melanie Laurent.

After Le Bal des Folles, the actor and director collaborates again with Prime Video on Libre. In this case, he directs Ivan Attal as a cop who is on the trail of a thug, promising Lea Luce Bussato and Radivoe Bukvic as Sulak’s loyal accomplice.

He has been called a “modern-day Arsene Lupine.”

You had to have grown up in the 80s to know Bruno Sulak. Because it was at this time that the young thirty-year-old was involved in a series of robberies and made headlines in the media. A movie character like few others, we had to wait until the 40th anniversary of his death and Prime Video to bring his story to television.

Co-writer and director Melanie Laurent lets us discover her fascinating journey in Libre, available to stream today. The behind-the-scenes wrangling—Sulak’s family accuses them of stealing his story—certainly influenced the writing of this film, which changed its title from Sulak to Libre.

Because while there will be a biopic of this modern-day Arsene Lupine, this film is an ode to a man imbued with freedom, on the fringes of society, and with a real political conscience.

It’s not a biopic…

He was portrayed by the press and those who knew him as a charming man who broke hearts as easily as he robbed mammoth stores. As the film opens with a heist scene, we are captivated by its lead, Lucas Bravo.

If Libre has its flaws, we can say that Melanie Laurent’s camera especially emphasizes its actress. We only have eyes for the 36-year-old French actress and her on-screen partner, the sparkling Lea Luce Bussato. A big find for those who didn’t know. And the postcard in which the characters develop – the bush, the French coastline and its turquoise waters… – adds a little extra charm.

But we quickly learn that Libre is not the biopic it seems to be. Melanie Laurent’s film explores only a small part of the psyche of the magnanimous robber: we know nothing about his youth, the reason for public outrage and his desire for freedom. The subject is quickly dropped in one or two scenes without further development.

What if Libre wasn’t ultimately just a romantic comedy between an outsider and his lover who follows him blindly, a kind of modern Bonnie and Clyde? Melanie Laurent’s photography of their bodies and faces makes us say yes.

…but the crime of the movie?

But Libre, however, reminds us of reality with this final scene, which shows Bruno Sulak fighting the guards at Fleury Merogis prison. An ending that we won’t mention here, but which calls into question the bias of its director and screenwriter, as well as the message they wanted to convey.

presented as “Inspired by true events”, The script still takes some liberties by telling only a small part of Bruno Sulak’s life and making him a martyr for freedom, a man of poetry who wanted to free himself from the laws and fight for the poor like Robin Hood. If we look only at the romantic aspect, Libre is a success. If you wanted to know everything about this Frenchman Arsene Lupin, some of the podcasts you can find on the Internet have done a better job of deciphering it.