MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for Une sale affaire

Une sale affaire

1981 · 95 min

A grim, methodical French crime drama about a ruthless cop whose tactics wreck an innocent woman's life.

Overview
Novak is a police inspector to whom any means is fair in getting evidence on criminals - especially drug dealers. He is after a drug ring that includes a city official and desperately needs evidence to bring the corrupt politician to trial, and to close down the ring. To that end, he involves Helene, the politician's secretary, causing her intensive emotional stress as he destroys her home life and unintentionally costs the life of her sister. By the time events have completed their course, the inspector has a chance to help Helene back to normalcy, and to reflect on the ultimate worth of his methods.

Search YouTube for the trailer

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
    Pacing
    measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
    Attention
    engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
    Themes
    • corruption
    • crime
    • justice
    • guilt
    • betrayal
    Places
    • big city
    Era
    contemporary
    Audience
    adult
    Form
    None
    Content intensity
    • Gore none
    • Language mild
    • Violence mild
    • Sex mild
    All scales, 0 to 10
    Scales, 0 to 10
    ScaleValue0 to 10
    Action4
    Horror1
    Humour1
    Realism7
    Romance1
    Tension5
    Darkness6
    Complexity5
    Emotional weight6

    More like this

    Titles like Une sale affaire

    Movie

    Low Profile

    1993

    A grounded French crime drama that simmers with quiet resentment as an ordinary cop turns against the system that betrayed him.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    106 min
    Details In your watch list
    Low ProfileHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Gajab Raat

    2026

    A sweaty, restless night that tightens around a flawed cop as mercy drags him deeper into danger.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    brisk
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    124 min
    Details In your watch list
    Gajab RaatHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Naga Merah

    1976

    A sober, procedural-minded crime drama that follows its pursuit steadily rather than with flash.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    112 min
    Details In your watch list
    Naga MerahHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Crime Story

    1993

    A grim, propulsive procedural that trades Jackie Chan's usual charm for raw tension and bruising, serious-minded action.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    brisk
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    107 min
    Details In your watch list
    Crime StoryHidden from your suggestions.
    TV series

    Last Summer

    2021

    A slow, brooding crime drama where uneasy alliances and moral compromises keep the pressure quietly building.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    slow-burn
    Attention
    engaged
    Seasons
    2
    Details In your watch list
    Last SummerHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Shattered Dreams

    1976

    A slow, moody crime drama that follows a man's downward spiral with a cool, detached European air.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    99 min
    Details In your watch list
    Shattered DreamsHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Black List

    1984

    A grim, fast-moving tale of a mother's grief turning into cold vengeance against the criminals who destroyed her family.

    Same director: Alain Bonnot · About crime and justice

    Also
    Same director: Alain Bonnot
    Via
    • crime
    • justice
    Pacing
    brisk
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    83 min
    Details In your watch list
    Black ListHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    The Man Who Betrayed the Mafia

    1967

    A gritty, no-nonsense French crime procedural that leans on tough-guy swagger and sudden violence.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Details In your watch list
    The Man Who Betrayed the MafiaHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Serpico

    1973

    A slow-burning, tense character study of a man standing alone against a corrupt system, anchored by a fiery performance.

    About corruption and justice

    Via
    • corruption
    • justice
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    129 min
    Details In your watch list
    SerpicoHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Untamable

    2025

    A tense, grounded police drama that follows a principled man fraying under pressure in a chaotic city.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    81 min
    Details In your watch list
    UntamableHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    L.A. Confidential

    1997

    A dense, stylish noir that pulls you into a web of corruption and moral compromise, rewarding close attention with sharp dialogue and escalating tension.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    138 min
    Details In your watch list
    L.A. ConfidentialHidden from your suggestions.
    Movie

    Knight Walks

    1995

    A gritty, low-budget detective procedural that grinds through a drug-world murder with grim determination rather than flair.

    About corruption and crime

    Via
    • corruption
    • crime
    Pacing
    measured
    Attention
    engaged
    Runtime
    82 min
    Details In your watch list
    Knight WalksHidden from your suggestions.

    Where to watch in the UK

    No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

    Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

    Details

    Genres
    drama, action, crime
    Directed by
    Alain Bonnot
    Starring
    Marlène Jobert, Victor Lanoux, Patrick Bouchitey, Agnès Château, Etienne Chicot
    Runtime
    95 min
    Country
    France
    Languages
    French

    TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikidata