Thieves

French filmmaker Andre Téchiné (Wild Reeds) has created another fascinating picture with Thieves, a gritty look at a strange love triangle that includes Alex (Daniel Auteil), a no-nonsense cop; Marie (Catherine Deneuve), an aging philosophy professor; and Juliette (Laurence Cote), a confused small-time criminal. Téchiné uses aggression and self-hatred for the basis of the very different relationships within the triangle, exploring the ways in which his characters are both drawn and repelled by their partners. At the same time, Téchiné explores the characters' relationships to their families, depicting the rivalry between Alex and his rich drug-dealer brother as complex, fused with resentment, jealousy, and familial obligation. Highly recommended. (L. Russo)