The Cousin (1997)
A gripping French crime thriller in which a police informant's dangerous double game unravels under mounting judicial pressure.
The Cousin - Movie Information
- Original Title: Le Cousin
- Release Year: 1997
- Directed by: Alain Corneau
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime
- Runtime: 1h 52m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 10, 1997 (France)
- Production Companies: Les Films Alain Sarde, TF1 Films Production, Divali Films, Compagnie Cinématographique Prima
- Production Countries: France
The Cousin - Plot
Nounours is the nickname of a “cousin” — an informer with a special arrangement with the police: he gets 10% of the drugs seized thanks to his help. When his personal contact, inspector Maurin, commits suicide, inspector Gérard Delvaux takes over. Meanwhile, judge Lambert is uncovering the illegal practices of the policemen. Her persistent investigations, which had cornered Maurin, are leading to Gérard, and also to Nounours as the source of heroin that led to recent cases of deadly overdoses. Nounours promises Gérard increasingly bigger catches which he is intent on realising before he is forced to reveal who Nounours is to judge Lambert.
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The Cousin - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Alain Corneau
Main Cast
- Patrick Timsit
- Alain Chabat
- Samuel Le Bihan
- Caroline Proust
- Mehdi El Glaoui
- Christophe Peyroux
- Marie Trintignant
- Agnès Jaoui
- Béatrice Michel
Writers
- Alain Corneau
- Michel Alexandre
Producers
- Alain Sarde
The Cousin - FAQs
What is The Cousin (1997) about?
The Cousin follows Nounours, a police informant who receives a cut of seized drugs in exchange for tips. When his handler dies and a new inspector takes over, a determined judge begins closing in on their corrupt arrangement, setting off a tense race against exposure and deadly consequences.
Does The Cousin have a happy ending?
The Cousin leans into the morally ambiguous territory typical of French crime cinema. Without giving too much away, the film doesn't offer easy resolutions — the web of corruption, loyalty, and self-preservation makes for a conclusion that feels grounded and unsettling rather than neatly satisfying.
Where can you watch The Cousin online?
You can check current streaming availability for The Cousin on JustWatch, which tracks all platforms offering the film in your region — whether for streaming, rental, or purchase.
Who plays Nounours in The Cousin?
Patrick Timsit plays Nounours, the film's central informant. Known primarily for comedy, Timsit delivers a surprisingly layered dramatic performance here, bringing warmth and menace to a character operating in genuinely dangerous moral grey zones.
Who directed The Cousin and what are their other films?
Alain Corneau directed The Cousin. A veteran of French genre cinema, Corneau is known for films like Série noire (1979), Fort Saganne (1984), and Tous les matins du monde (1991). The Cousin fits squarely into his long interest in crime, moral ambiguity, and social institutions.
Is The Cousin based on a true story?
The Cousin is not directly based on a single documented case, but its portrait of police informants skimming seized drugs and the judicial investigations that follow draws heavily on real practices within French law enforcement that were widely discussed during the 1990s, lending the story a strong sense of authenticity.
What are some films similar to The Cousin?
If The Cousin appeals to you, try Flic Story (1975) or Without Apparent Motive (1971) for classic French crime atmosphere, or Razzia (1955) for an earlier take on the underworld. For something more recent, In Too Deep (1999) and Panic (2000) share a similar tone of moral compromise.
How was The Cousin received by critics?
The Cousin was well received in France upon its 1997 release, praised for its sharp performances — particularly from Patrick Timsit and Alain Chabat — and Corneau's assured direction. Critics appreciated its unsentimental look at police corruption and the film's refusal to glamorize its morally compromised characters.
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