Watch Bastards

Bastards is a French psychological thriller from 2013, directed by Claire Denis. The film stars Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni and Julie Bataille in lead roles. The story begins with the character of Marco (Lindon), a sea captain who receives news of his brother-in-law's suicide. He returns to France to help his sister Sandra (Mastroianni) and their troubled niece Justine (Bataille). Justine, who is suffering from severe depression, has attempted suicide several times, prompting her father’s demise. Marco decides to investigate the circumstances surrounding his brother-in-law’s death, as he suspects foul play.

While trying to piece together the events that led to his brother-in-law’s suicide, Marco discovers a web of lies and deceit that threaten to destroy his family. He discovers that his brother-in-law was a wealthy businessman named Edouard Laporte, who was involved in some illegal activities. Marco meets a wealthy businessman named Raphael (Laurent Grévill), who tells him that Laporte’s death was caused by his daughter’s incestuous relationship with her father.

As Marco continues to investigate, he uncovers a network of corruption that involves high-ranking officials in the French government. He confronts Laporte’s mistress and learns that she had a key role in his brother-in-law's illegal practices. As he gets closer to the truth, Marco realizes that he cannot trust anyone and that his family’s safety is at risk.

The film explores themes of trust and betrayal, family ties and revenge. The characters are complex and well-developed, with each one hiding secrets that are eventually revealed. Vincent Lindon delivers a powerful performance as a man haunted by his brother-in-law’s death and trying to protect his family from danger.

Chiara Mastroianni, playing Sandra and Julie Bataille, playing the troubled Justine, both give emotional performances that add depth to the story. The film’s cinematography is stunning, with beautiful shots of the French countryside and the contrasting gritty urban areas.

The film’s slow pace and lack of action may not appeal to everyone. However, the tension builds steadily as the plot twists and turns, and the final reveal is unexpected and shocking. The film’s haunting soundtrack adds to the suspenseful atmosphere.

Overall, Bastards is a thought-provoking and intense film that explores the dark underbelly of French society. It is a gripping thriller with strong performances, stunning cinematography and an intriguing plot. Claire Denis has crafted a complex and bleak portrait of a group of damaged characters and their descent into darkness.

Bastards is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 69.