KO

France, 2025, 85 minutes, Colour.

Cyril Gane, Alice Balaidi, Foued Nabba, Maleaume Paquin, Anne Azoulay.

Directed by Antoine Blossier.

A brief French action and detection film. Cyril Gane, a strong screen presence, plays a mixed martial arts fighter, Bastien, who unintentionally kills a rival. He gives up fighting, is resented by the wife and son of his rival.

The wife then approaches Bastien to search for her son because of his involvement in brutal drug gangs in the neighbourhood. Also in pursuit of the gangs are a police officer who has grown up with them. She is tough.

The material is as expected, the bonding between the two investigating, the resentment of the son who has witnessed a killing and is in danger of his life. A lot of action sequences, and a set piece of fight within the nightclub.

The running time is short, the setup more or less as expected – and all is fulfilled.

1. The title and expectations? The fight sequences? The confrontation with the drug gangs and the finale?
2. The French settings, cities, mixed martial arts fights, the crowds? The different neighbourhoods, migrants and refugees, lifestyle? Drug dealing and issues? Gangs?
3. The fight sequences, fight choreography, stunt work? In the ring? In the bar? In the police officers? The musical score?
4. Bastien, in the ring, the fight, determination to win, his rival, Enzo, knocking him down, his death? The repercussions? Bastien withdrawing from fighting? Emma, grief at her husband’s death, antagonism towards Bastien? Leo, his age, watching, devotion to his father, vengeance on Bastien? Leaving home, drug involvement?
5. Emma, going to Bastien, concerned about Leo, Bastien feeling he must help? The issues in the neighbourhood, the Manchour gang, leaving, returning, dominating? Abdul as leader, Driss his associate? The scenes in the warehouse, Leo, Courier, watching, witnessing the death? His dilemma, fears for his safety?
6. The police, Alaoui, tough, her partner, working together, the revelation of her background, with the gangs? Her police work, meeting Bastien, wary, working with him, as a team?
7. The mole in the office, the phone calls, the warning to the gangs? The pay off?
8. The police precinct, the commander, Halloween and her work, suspension? Her tough behaviour, beyond the rules? Free to work with Bastien?
9. The detection work, tracking down the gang, the confrontations, finding Leo, hiding him, girlfriend, the dangers, at the police precinct, the interrogations?
10. The final confrontations, the fights, Leo saved, reunited with Emma, the achievement of Bastien and Aloui? Expectations fulfilled?