The movie, “Libre”, released on Nov. 1, is a biographical thriller movie based on the life of Bruno Sulak. France’s “gentleman bandit” of the 1980s, Sulak was known for his notorious non-violent robberies of jewelry shops and French grocery stores in Paris and the Riviera. The movie goes through his streak of high-stakes robberies without firing a single shot as well as his cat-and-mouse relationship with a detective. “Libre” is also a love story between Bruno (played by Lucas Bravo, best known for his role in “Emily in Paris”) and Annie (Léa Luce Busato) and their puppy love. 

The movie is directed by Mélanie Laurent, a French actress and filmmaker. The recipient of two César Awards (comparable to the Academy Awards, or Oscars) and a Lumières award (comparable to the Golden Globe awards), she is very accomplished in the French film industry. Laurent is best known internationally for her acting in “Now You See Me,” “Operation Finale,” “Inglourious Basterds”and “6 Underground.” Laurent directed “Libre” in a stylized way, using captivating shots and unordinary scenes. As for her casting, she insisted that Lucas Bravo’s past on “Emily in Paris” wasn’t what caused her to cast him as Bruno Sulak. “I’ve never seen his show,” she said. “I met him at a dinner and I didn’t even know who he was.” As for Léa Luce Busato, she says she saw pure talent and casted her in her first ever screen role. 

Bruno Sulak died at age 29, after he tried to escape prison. The movie takes creative license, speculating that when Sulak is cornered during his escape attempt, he is attacked by the guards and thrown out of a window; leading to his death. However, in reality, his death is considered as him hurling himself out the window, dying of a head injury.

The movie scored poorly on IMDB, earning a 5.8/10. However, not many reviews have been published. According to Google, 78% of users enjoyed the movie.