In 19th century Paris, the famed detective Vidocq (Gérard Depardieu) disappears while pursuing a murderer called the Alchemist. Etienne Boisset (Guillaume Canet), a young biographer of Vidocq’s, follows in his footsteps and progressively uncovers Vidocq’s investigations. He learns how Vidocq was first called in to investigate a series of assassinations by lightning, which led him to pursue the Alchemist.
Etienne discovers that the Alchemist is a wizard of sorts who wears a mirrored mask and kills virgins to maintain eternal youth. Even the sex of the Alchemist is a mystery, because it sometimes utters mocking feminine sighs during combat with Vidocq. Etienne probes deeper into Vidocq’s investigations and eventually comes to learn that the Alchemist uses virgin blood to make magical mirrors that consume human souls.
At last, Etienne comes to the end of his trail and discovers Vidocq alive and in hiding. Etienne dons a mirrored mask and reveals himself to be the Alchemist. Vidocq has known all along, however, and is ready to fight his nemesis. During their final confrontation, Vidocq defeats the Alchemist, but the end of the film suggests that the Alchemist survives.
Vidocq (North American DVD title: Dark Portals: The Chronicles of Vidocq) is a 2001 mystery film, directed by Pitof, starring Gérard Depardieu as historical figure Eugène François Vidocq pursuing a supernatural serial killer. It is notable as being the first major fantasy film to be released that was shot entirely with digital cinematography, using a Sony HDW-F900 CineAlta camera.
Vidocq (2001)
Directed by: Pitof
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Guillaume Canet, Inés Sastre, André Dussollier, Edith Scob, Elsa Kikoïne, Moussa Maaskri, Jean-Marc Thibault, François Chattot
Screenplay by: Jean-Christophe Grange, Pitof
Production Design by: Jean Rabasse
Cinematography by: Jean-Pierre Sauvaire, Jean-Claude Thibaut
Film Editing by: Thierry Hoss
Costume Design by: Carine Sarfati
Set Decoration by: Selim Azzazi
Art Direction by: Hervé Gallet
Makeup Department: Kuno Schlegelmilch
Music by: Bruno Coulais
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Release Date: September 19, 2001 (France)
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