La padrina - Parigi ha una nuova regina

Subtitles... patience (isabelle huppert) is a translator for the french police. When there's a bust, she is brought in to question the prisoners, and to listen in on telephone calls. Right now, she also needs to raise money pronto for her own rent and for her elderly mother. When patience overhears a conversation that is someone she knows, she helps the drug runner hide the hash before the cops get there. Lots of cussing in various languages. Patience keeps taking things further and further... she sets up her own network, and even figures out a way to launder the money with the home-owner association. Sure, we're overlooking a few things, but it's fun to see how far she can go with this scheme. Will she get away with it?? The title on screen at the beginning is la daronne, which really means the mom. Directed by jean paul salome, who also made sitting duck with huppert. It's fun. Zips right along. She's a criminal, but we want her to succeed.

'' Mama Weed '' is a French Black Comedy about a woman who works as a translator for the police, decides to become a drug dealer herself, like those she has been translating all these years. There is a creepy and mysterious past that surrounds her, as small details of it resurface here and there, as well as some touching ones when it came to her daughters and her relationship with her mother.

On the other hand, and even though there were some interesting plotlines that could have been developed and managed better, the movie fails to impress. In the end, it feels like a half baked drama with no climax and no real story.

The performances, at least, were all great.

So, overall, five out of ten.

Whether you call it La daronne, Mamma Weed or The Godmother, Jean-Paul Salomé's screen adaption of Hannelore Cayre's award winning novel is a sight to behold. At times satirical, sometimes serious, a romp as ridiculous as it is romantic, La daronne has created a film about liars that is at all times honest. A true genre bending experience that defies tonal expectations and seems deeply intent on sending its message to all watchers, whether they want it or not. A message as heart-warming as it is controversial. We are all just people.

At its core, this film is a crime thriller, following the exploits of a police interpreter who comes from a family of drug runners, being given the opportunity and choosing to break bad. It runs through all the noir and dramatic tropes. A by the number's cops and robber's tale, with doomed romances and violent standoffs abound. What makes The Godmother unique is that while it uses every cliches in the book, it subverts every one of them. Showing a truly honest reflection of reality, viewers are treated to the rarely seen truth behind the criminal mythos. No one really knows what they are doing. The police aren't just relentless machines of justice, hunting down their hapless prey, they are regular old people, just doing a job and trying to help. Drug runners aren't violent perverts, they are often just kids trying to get by. Even those higher up on the chain don't sit around a warehouse smoking cigars and plotting evil. They take care of their families and hang out with their friends. They run a business the same way any regional manager does. Even our protagonist (Expertly played by Isabelle Huppert), for all that she runs circles around the police, keeps the gangs in line, and makes herself into a criminal boss to be feared, she is just a middle-aged mother, trying to keep my family together and deal with the same life struggles as everyone else.

Jean-Paul Salomé is unafraid to let each situation play out with brutal honesty. He lets interactions become awkward and strained. Romantic gestures go unnoticed and miscommunication runs rampart. There are no seamless handovers, each side walking away without counting the money. There is no honour among thieves and super geniuses don't hang around dark alleys selling weed. The crime is still crime, people get hurt and their actions are inexcusable, but that doesn't mean they aren't understandable. The Godmother walks the tightrope of showing each side of the law, warts and all, without glorifying or vilifying either. There are no heroes or villains in this story, just police and criminals, going about their lives, trying to get though the day.

There are many who take offense to the idea that the people in jail are just as human and relatable as them. Those people are unlikely to enjoy Rialto Distribution's latest offering. For everyone else, or even just those willing to go in with an open mind, The Godmother is a funny, sad, ridiculous look at realism, and well worth your time.

While watching it. It's not only comedy, it has dramatic moments, also. Isabelle Huppert is amazing, and manages to cover the plot holes. In the end, one may not care if the whole thing is credible or not, good acting makes it an overall entertaining movie.

As francophone movie was easy to follow. Plot had holes and some actions didnt make sense but overall liked it. It could be definitely better. Neighbors were cool they shouldve got more screen time. Not sure at the end it was one time only smart villain role playing for main charachter