A Gang Story
Short description
Edmond Vidal, known as Momon, grew up poor in a gypsy camp and carried the values he learned there into a life of crime. With his childhood friend Serge Suttel, he helped build the gang known as the Lyonnais, whose armed robberies made them among the most wanted men in France in the early 1970s. Their rise ended with a dramatic arrest in 1974. Decades later, Momon is approaching sixty and has left the criminal world behind, devoting himself to his wife Janou, his children and grandchildren. Serge, by contrast, has renounced nothing of his past, and his return forces Momon to confront the friendship that shaped him and the criminal career he has tried to forget. The story moves between Momon's memories of the gang's early years and his present-day efforts to help his old friend.
Olivier Marchal directed and co-wrote the film with Edgar Marie. It followed his 2004 feature 36th Precinct and preceded Carbone (2017), Rogue City (2020), Overdose (2022) and Squad 36 (2025). Gérard Lanvin plays the older Momon, with Dimitri Storoge as the young Momon, Tchéky Karyo as Serge Suttel, Daniel Duval as Christo Avetisian and Patrick Catalifo as Commissioner Max Brauner. Produced by Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma and LGM Productions, the 102-minute crime drama drew a 6.9 rating on IMDb from around 9,300 votes and a 6.8 on TMDB from roughly 400 votes, while a smaller group of critics rated it 5 out of 10.
What's left behind the scenes
- 250 Roma extras were involved in the arrest scene.
- The real Edmond Vidal was invited to the set by director Olivier Marshall to introduce him to the art of cinema. He was also, by agreement, to become a consultant during certain moments of filming if necessary.
- Initially, director Olivier Marchal and screenwriter Edgar Marie envisioned the film in two parts, similar to “Enemy of the State No. 1.” Ultimately, they decided against this and combined both time periods into a single film.
- In the real story of the Lyon robbery gang, the character played by Cheky Karyo, Serge Suttelet, did not exist. According to director Olivier Marchal, this character was added for dramatic effect. He embodies the traits of three or four different people who, in one way or another, encountered the real Momo.
- The film's title translates to "The Lionesses".
- Olivier Marchal’s three previous films – “Gangs” (2002), “36 Quai des Orfèvres,” and “A Gang Story” (2008) – approached the criminal world from the perspective of law enforcement. Here, the situation is reversed, showing it from the inside.
- Olivier Marshall's initial choice for the role of Edmond Vidal was Alain Delon. Citing commitments to other projects and controversial points in the script, the legendary actor declined the offer.
- The basis for the film was the story of a gang that gained notoriety throughout France, operating in the vicinity of Lyon from 1967 to 1974. Its distinguishing feature during robberies was clean and bloodless work without unnecessary violence.
- The role of Serge Suttel was to be played by Bernard Giraudeau, but due to health problems, the actor was forced to leave the project. He passed away from cancer on July 17, 2010, and the film was officially dedicated to his memory. The role, after his forced withdrawal, went to Cheky Kario.
- Before starting work on "Untouchables," Olivier Marshall showed interest in staging a film about another famous French gang operating in the vicinity of Paris. The film, titled "Bandits in Masks" (2007), was eventually directed by Ariel Zeitoun, with Vincent Elbaz in the lead role.
- Former crime boss Edmond Vidal confided that if a film were to be made about him, it should be directed by Olivier Marchal. This eventually reached the director, serving as the starting point for the future project.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
