I'm «Lupin» and many others

Saturday movie platforms - Alissa Musumeci

Identity changes, enigmas and unexpected twists and turns - that's what's in store for us. Lupin, in Arsène's shadow, on Netflix since January 2021. George Kay and François Uzan, creators of the series, were right on the money. A few days after its release, the first part of Lupin is already in the top 10 of most-watched content in many countries. Switzerland, Brazil and many others have been won over by this adaptation of the short story collections written by Maurice Leblanc, starting in 1905. The cast includes Assane Diop (Omar Sy) and his ex-girlfriend Claire (Ludivine Sagnier).

1995. Young Assane sees his life fall apart following his father’s irreversible act. Babakar is the private driver for a wealthy family. At the head of the family is Hubert Pellegrini, an influential businessman. One day, Assane’s father is accused of theft by his employer. This humble father, who is merely a servant, knows full well that his version of events carries no weight with Pellegrini. Consumed by guilt toward his son, Babakar takes his own life in his prison cell. Assane, orphaned at the age of fifteen, is sent to a private middle school.

2020. Assane, now a father, is more determined than ever to avenge his father. What is his inspiration? The famous book Arsène Lupin, gentleman burglar - a nickname illustrating the contrast between his less-than-honest activity and his social life. Babakar decides to give his son the book that was in the majestic Pellegrini library. The characters of Luis Perenna, a cleaning agent, Paul Sernine, a wealthy entrepreneur and young Maxime, a computer scientist, were inspired by this reading. All these identities are effectively anagrams of Arsène Lupin. Lupin's talent that fascinates Assane? He's always one step ahead. All his actions are meticulously studied and prepared.

Family love, forever and ever

When viewing Lupin, In the end, we are transported by different emotions. The most remarkable is the pain we feel at Assane's journey. This series offers us a very beautiful notion of life, which can move us. We have a young teenager whose life is punctuated by heartbreaking events and choices made against his will, made all the more difficult by the fact that he has recently been orphaned. Over 25 years, Babakar's story becomes increasingly clear to Assane, who goes so far as to put himself in danger to avenge his father. This action-packed, puzzle-filled series questions perseverance and the search for truth. Assane doesn't give up, always going the extra mile and implementing strategies that are each more inventive than the last. In the end, Lupin's actions aren't honest, but his heart mingles with his reason. The viewer empathizes with this child's tragic fate. 

A sequel announced 

The second half of this first season will air this summer. The next season is already in the works, which is sure to fill those of us who, like me, loved the start of the series with excitement! Could it be Omar Sy’s charisma that has us so captivated? One thing is certain: by the end of the first five episodes, viewers are hooked. Every actor has managed to give their character unique traits, even the supporting characters. There isn’t a single moment where boredom sets in. What’s more, I find the series’ structure very clear; the flashbacks to Assane’s teenage years help us understand the choices he’s made. That way, we don’t risk missing an important detail or being left confused by a scene.

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Photo credits: © Emmanuel Guimier - Netflix