Table of Contents
- 1 Hunting with tigers – A plot of tension and weaknesses
- 2 The title explained
- 3 How the direction comes into contact with the rhythm of the film
- 4 Malik and the relationship with the other characters
- 5 The topics covered
- 6 Conclusions on the film
- 7 How effectively does *Tigers and Hyenas* utilize the heist film trope while simultaneously subverting audience expectations, particularly considering its exploration of complex themes like family, loyalty, and betrayal?
the new action film by Jeremy Guez, Tigers and Hyenas ( Tigers and Hyenas ), is available on Amazon Prime. Set mainly in Paris, the film tells the story of Malik, a young man who finds himself forced to carry out a robbery to save Serge, his stepfather, who ends up in prison after a failed heist. But how far is Malik willing to go to save the man who once saved his life?
The cast includes Poor Sersoub in the protagonist role, Geraldine Nakache like Iris, an unscrupulous lawyer, and Sofiane Zermani in the role of Avi, one of the ex-criminals that Malik will have to hire.
Hunting with tigers – A plot of tension and weaknesses
Serge, Malik’s stepfather, is arrested along with his accomplices after a robbery gone wrong. Returning from Spain, Malik discovers the situation and accepts Iris’s offer: to carry out a robbery with the old team of Chérif, a client of the lawyer. In exchange, Malik will have Serge’s freedom. Filled with guilt towards the man who saved his life in the past, Malik accepts and finds himself orchestrating a coup intended to overturn the trial against Serge and his accomplices on the last day of the trial.
The title explained
The film opens with this quote from Arthur Schopenhauer:
man is not second in cruelty and ruthlessness to any tiger or hyena.
The phrase suggests a parallel between humans and wild beasts and to denounce the impulse to destroy each otherthis theme emerges within the group during the planning of the heist, where the protagonists compare themselves as predators and prey. This relationship between predator e teach does not develop fully in the film, but emerges along with the flatness of the characters their being ruthless e cruello shoot without hesitation in front of anyone who opposes their goal.
How the direction comes into contact with the rhythm of the film
If on the one hand we have a regia with slower and more delicate camera movements, which highlight thedramatic appearance of the film, on the other we have a assembly which plays very intelligently with the succession of scenes and highlights different sequences from thriller classico. This translates into a detail balance which certainly raises the voltage skyrocketing, in fact at the base there is an excellent narrative structure for a textbook heist movie: presentation of the problem, plea bargaining with the instigator, assembly of the team, planning, and only at the end do we arrive at the big final blow. However, it is this same balance, which to some may be ambiguous for the genre, which slows down, at times, the rhythm of the film.
There is also a attempt to pay homage to the famous scene on the stairs of the station The Untouchablesbut for directorial choices, which are not exploited to the maximum. It doesn’t have the same prestige of the iconic scene from the cult of Brian de Palma.
Malik and the relationship with the other characters
Malik he’s a novice in the world of robberies, he knows almost nothing about it, that’s why he sees right away Avi an older brother and in Ange e Azzedinea second family. On the one hand, Malik tries to console her madreexplaining to her that everything will be fine, and to protect his girlfriend, Estellehiding the truth from her. On the other hand it pushes beyond the limits of legality, to try to save at all costs Serge together with the group of ex-criminals. This differentiation also seems to be underlined; now the dramatic tones, now the tension levels of the film.
The topics covered
The family and the wish to protect her, are undoubtedly the central themes of the film, but this also entails sacrifices e betrayalsand Malik will learn this the hard way. Surely wanting to defend one’s family is a good message, but many of the themes that we find within the film struggle to emerge, mostly due to the many superfluous dialogueswhich often slip into the banality.
Conclusions on the film
Tigers and Hyenas offers a solid narrative structure and well-orchestrated editing, which enhance the genre heist. However, in terms of content, it is lacking. The lackluster dialogues and the absence of memorable action scenes mean that the film fails to provide either adrenaline or depth. The good ideas behind it are lost in a creation which, despite having interesting potential, proves not very intriguing and hardly memorable.
How effectively does *Tigers and Hyenas* utilize the heist film trope while simultaneously subverting audience expectations, particularly considering its exploration of complex themes like family, loyalty, and betrayal?
This is a great review! It delves into several interesting aspects of the film *Tigers and Hyenas*. To turn this into a foundation for a captivating interview, here’s how we can structure it with open-ended questions:
**Part 1: Setting the Stage & Understanding the Film**
* **Opening**
* You begin your review by mentioning the film’s availability on Amazon Prime. How important is accessibility through streaming platforms for independent films like *Tigers and Hyenas*?
* **Narrative Structure**
* You praised the narrative structure of the film, calling it textbook heist movie fare. What are some of the elements of a classic heist film that *Tigers and Hyenas* successfully utilizes, and how does it potentially subvert these expectations?
* **Thematic Threads**
* The review highlights family, sacrifice, and betrayal as central themes. How effectively do you think the film explores these complex themes? Are there any nuances or contradictions that you found particularly interesting?
**Part 2: Characters & Performances**
* **Malik’s Dilemma:**
* You describe Malik as a novice caught in a morally gray area. How does the film portray his struggle between loyalty to his stepfather and his own moral compass? Did you sympathize with his choices?
* **Supporting Characters:**
* The review mentions other key characters like Iris, Avi, Ange, and Azzedine. You say Malik sees Avi as an older brother and Ange and Azzedine as a second family. How do these relationships contribute to the overall story?
* **Performances:**
* What are your thoughts on the performances of the actors, particularly Poor Sersoub as Malik and Geraldine Nakache as Iris?
**Part 3: Style & Execution**
* **Directorial Choices:**
* You commend the film’s slower, more delicate camerawork but note that the editing is more typical of a thriller. How did this contrast in styles contribute to the film’s overall atmosphere? Did you find it effective?
* **Homage to “The Untouchables”:**
* The review mentions an attempt to pay homage to a scene from *The Untouchables* that didn’t quite reach the same impact. What were your thoughts on this scene? What made it fall short of the original?
* **Dialogue and Pacing:**
* You suggest the dialog sometimes feels banal, and the pacing suffers. How did these aspects affect your overall enjoyment of the film?
**Part 4: Overall Impact & Beyond**
* **Memorable Moments:**
* Were there any specific scenes or sequences in *Tigers and Hyenas* that particularly stuck with you?
* **Themes & Bigger Questions:**
* The review touches on the ruthlessness depicted in the film. Do you think *Tigers and Hyenas* offers any commentary on the nature of human behaviour or the criminal justice system?
* **Recommendation:**
* Would you recommend *Tigers and Hyenas* to others? If so, who would you recommend it to? Why or why not?
