The Monopoly of Violence

Local title
Vägivalla monopol
Original title
Un pays qui se tient sage
Director
David Dufresne
Country
France
Year
2020
Programme
Doc@PÖFF

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.

Director
David Dufresne
Producer
Bertrand Faivre
DoP
Edmond Carrère
Editor
Florent Mangeot
Production
Le Bureau, Jour2Fête
Runtime
Language
English, French
Subtitles
English