The Monopoly of Violence

Un pays qui se tient sage

Genre

Documentary

Director

David Dufresne

Run time

1h 29min

In this stimulating, sometimes shocking, and altogether powerful documentary about police violence in contemporary France, filmmaker and journalist David Dufresne examines the ways in which a government justifies brutal acts against its own citizens.

Taking its title from sociologist and political economist Max Weber, who wrote that the state establishes a "monopoly on violence" by claiming the legitimate use of force, Dufresne’s film mixes footage of attacks on protestors – largely of the gilet jaunes, or "yellow vest," political movement – and interviews with intellectuals, police officers, and victims of police assault.

Genre

Documentary

Director

David Dufresne

Run time

1h 29min

In this stimulating, sometimes shocking, and altogether powerful documentary about police violence in contemporary France, filmmaker and journalist David Dufresne examines the ways in which a government justifies brutal acts against its own citizens.

Taking its title from sociologist and political economist Max Weber, who wrote that the state establishes a "monopoly on violence" by claiming the legitimate use of force, Dufresne’s film mixes footage of attacks on protestors – largely of the gilet jaunes, or "yellow vest," political movement – and interviews with intellectuals, police officers, and victims of police assault.

Info

Rating

(none)

Production year

2019

Global distributor

--

Local distributor

Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival MTÜ

In cinema

11/28/2020