Cops

Interesting film about PTSD and occupational burnout in the police force; with also some poignant satirical elements about special police units, I think. The film is based on the WEGA, a special unit of the Austrian police in Austria's capitol, Vienna. It is responsible for tasks and operations with higher risk-level than conventional police services. Some of the extremely critical depictions of the WEGA are a bit exaggerated, I think. So it would seem that the WEGA took one for the team here, in the sense that PTSD and occupational burnout among police officers - in Austria as well as the rest of the world - should be addressed, so as to prevent excessive force and police violence by police officers. However, I actually always had my suspicions that occupational burnout was a bit of problem in this particular police unit in Austria :) When I did my Master thesis at the Austrian police, I actually also attempted to conduct a burnout study at the WEGA - but regrettably I was denied access into this very special Austrian police unit :( On a more serious note though, I think this film also tackles some very important delicate police issues, such as the proportional use of force. Especially in this day and age of violent extremism and terrorism, police officers are sometimes put in a position where they have to use their firearms to prevent the shooting and killing of innocent civilians. So I definitely think that such cutting-edge police films should also be made in those big countries - such as the USA, Russia and China - where police violence and occupational burnout in the police force is a big problem; in the sense that Law Enforcement Management should have no inhibitions of imposing mandatory Psychotherapy and Human Rights Education on police officers who exhibit unethical behavior and poor judgment in the international community.

Close enough to the ACAB (no pun intended and I will not go into the meaning of that), just changed the last letter, so it now reads: All cops are human. And before you lash out or go crazy - we are all humans of course. And what some people in uniforms are doing ... well apart from being despicable and wrong, has also roots and reasons.

And it also can mean that it does trigger a response from them. Not everyone understands the consequences of their own actions. Especially if there are no consequences - if there is no responsibility and no accountability. Things you see in this movie and that are very well played by the actors. It could shine a light more on the outside, but the movie is called Cops after all ... so it does make sense.

Interestingly enough this is an Austrian movie - it did have a European look and feel to it for sure. And I mean that in the most positive way possible. If you like drama, if you like uncomfortable questions and answers that are not easy ... this is a movie you should check out.

Go and watch this film if you have the opportunity.

It is very authentic. And the acting is brilliant.

And what to speak of the editing ; perfection.

Congratulations also to the director.

I thought about the Stefano Sollima's film whilst watching this one. I mean ACAB depicting the true and authentic life of street cops. The daily burden and inner problems. Nothing special here, a good study from the inside. We have already seen this before and that's not a thriller, as a reviewer has said, nor a crime movie though it speaks of cops. But nothing really criminal element here, nor gunshots, no gangsters. Nor heroes of any kind. Just an accurate study with a very riveting ending sequences. A fist in the face.

This movie is about a guy who joins the special police unit "WEGA" (former known as Wiener Einsatzgruppe Alarmabteilung), highlighting some of the really hard challenges of this kind of job.

It's a very authentic and realistic police drama and the opposite of a Michael Bay movie, so don't watch it with the expectation to see another Bad Boys flick.

To give you a short introduction without spoilers let's say the Cop's are called to different places of action. Most of the time it really feels like you're part of the scene and in the end it's getting more and more intense with some good thrilling parts. Also the job's impact to the cop's private life is shown in some points.

I really enjoyed to get a 90 minutes closer lock behind the "WEGA" curtain. Especially because the director's focus is on a non-mainstream part of this job.

The spoken language is viennese.

Recommended when you love to see authentic thrillers, police stories or similar stuff.

Cheers, Fletcher