''22 Bullets'' (french: L'Immortel) is a 2010 French

gangster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

directed by Richard Berry. It tells a part of the life story of

Jacky Imbert Jacques Imbert (30 December 1929 – 11 November 2019) was a French gang leader who first came to prominence in 1960s Marseille's underworld, where he was considered "The Last Godfather". His nickname "''Jacky le Mat''" means "Jacky the ma ...

, and is based on the novel ''L'Immortel'' (2007) by

Franz-Olivier Giesbert Franz-Olivier Giesbert (born January 18, 1949, in Wilmington, Delaware) is an American-born French journalist, author, and television presenter. Giesbert worked for ''Le Figaro'' from 1988 to 2000 and for '' Le Point'' starting in 2000. In 2013 ...

. Filming began on 23 February 2009 in

Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Fra ...

, in

Avignon Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...

in early April 2009, and continued for 8 weeks in Paris.http://www.avignews.com/fusillade-en-plein-avignon-@/video.jspz?video=103624 Une scène tournée à Avignon

Plot

Three years ago mafia boss Charly Matteï retired. He left the business to his old friend Tony Zacchia. He lives a peaceful life , devoted to his wife and two children. His past catches up with him when he is ambushed by an eight-man hit squad in a parking lot and left for dead with 22 bullets in his body. Against all odds, he survives to take revenge on his killers. On the hunt for the shooters, he is confronted with his criminal past and threats to his family. He tries to identify those responsible without bloodshed. This "weakness" is exploited, and his friend Karim is murdered by the people who shot him. Matteï swears revenge and goes on a hunt for the masterminds of the attack. He visits the hit squad during a birthday celebration and announces that he will kill each of them randomly at a time of his choosing. Marie Goldman is the policewoman investigating the shooting in the parking lot. Her husband, who was also a policeman, was killed in the service but his killer was never caught. Despite the indifference of her superiors, she would like to clear up the murder of her husband. Towards the end of the movie, in order to save his kidnapped son, a desperate Matteï makes a deal with Goldman, who herself is divided between doing her duty and punishing the murderers of her husband, who she suspects were Zacchia's men. The police get a USB drive containing data incriminating Zacchia in a money fraud and laundering operation. Matteï rescues his son and then finally confronts Tony Zacchia at his home, but Zachia turns the tables and is about to kill Matteï when the police interrupt and arrest both. In the end, Matteï is released as the cops do not have enough evidence to charge him. Goldman had earlier revealed to Matteï that one of the 8 shooters had missed him on purpose in the shootout at the start of the movie. Matteï figures out that this eighth shooter was his friend and lawyer who had been forced by Zacchia into shooting Matteï. He is forgiven by Matteï and the movie ends with Matteï walking with his family on a beach. His voiceover tells the audience that he had left his past life behind him and all he wanted to do was spend whatever possible time he had left with his family. He also says that he will no more have to look over his shoulder as he is at peace with his past.

Cast

Jean Reno Jean Reno () (born 30 July 1948), is a French actor. He has worked in American, French, English, Japanese, Spanish and Italian movie productions; Reno appeared in films such as '' Crimson Rivers'', ''Godzilla'', '' The Da Vinci Code'', '' Mission ...

- Charly Matteï *

Kad Merad Kad Merad (born Kaddour Merad, ar, قدور ميراد, link=no; 27 March 1964) is a French-Algerian filmmaker and actor who has acted both on stage and on screen. Life and career Kad Merad was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, on 27 March 1 ...

- Tony Zacchia *

Jean-Pierre Darroussin Jean-Pierre Darroussin (born 4 December 1953) is a French actor and filmmaker. He was born in Courbevoie, France. Theater Filmography Actor *1992: '' Riens du tout'' (directed by Cédric Klapisch starring Fabrice Luchini, Daniel Berlioux) ...

- Martin Beaudinard *

Marina Foïs Marina Sylvie Foïs (born 21 January 1970) is a French actress. Life and career Born in Boulogne-Billancourt in the department of Hauts-de-Seine in a family from Russian, Jewish Egyptian, German and Italian ancestry, Marina Foïs was disco ...

- Marie Goldman * Joeystarr - Le pistachier * Richard Berry - Aurelio Rampoli *

Venantino Venantini Venantino Venantini (17 April 1930 – 9 October 2018) was an Italian film actor.Claude Gensac Claude Gensac (1 March 1927 – 27 December 2016) was a French actress. She appeared in more than 70 films and television productions since 1952. Gensac is the oldest nominee to date in the category César Award for Best Supporting Actress, nomi ...

- Mme Fontarosa * - Eva Matteï * - Anatole Matteï * Catherine Samie - Stella Matteï *

Moussa Maaskri Moussa Maaskri ( ar, موسى معسكري) (born 15 November 1962) is an Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital ...

- Karim * Guillaume Gouix - The Morvelous jr.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:22 Bullets 2010 films 2010 action drama films 2010 crime drama films 2010 crime action films Biographical films about French gangsters Films about child abduction in France Films about murderers French films about revenge Films about violence Films based on crime novels Films based on French novels Films produced by Luc Besson French crime action films 2010s French-language films Mafia films Films directed by Richard Berry 2010s French films