“Fast, clear and exciting – in ‘Bastille Day’ classic motifs of the cop thriller are skilfully combined with the visual values of modern action blockbusters”. With this conclusion, our FILMSTARTS review sums up the cracker of “The Woman in Black” director James Watkins. Starring two British stars who are currently making headlines with the Netflix film “Luther: The Fallen Sun” and the hit series “Citadel” on Amazon Prime Video: Idris Elba and Richard Madden.
“Bastille day“ will be broadcast on ZDF on May 8, 2023 at 10:15 p.m. The station offers a rerun on the night of May 9 to 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Alternatively, the FSK 16 title is available in streaming subscriptions from WOW (formerly Sky Ticket)* And joy* included and available as Blu-ray/DVD or as paid video-on-demand through the usual online services:
“Bastille Day”: that’s the story
American Michael Mason (Richard Madden) gets by as a cheater and pickpocket in Paris. But then he steals the wallet of the wrong person (Charlotte Le Bon). Because there is a bomb hidden in it without him noticing it. Mason finds nothing of value in it and carelessly tosses the bag in the trash. Shortly afterwards, the explosive explodes, killing four people.
The thief, who was filmed by surveillance cameras, is now wanted as a terrorist. The CIA sends badass agent Sean Briar (Idris Elba) to take the suspect into custody before the local police catch him. When this actually succeeds, the shocked Freemason desperately protests his innocence and Briar believes him.
Which means the real culprits are still on the loose and could strike again at any moment… So Briar and Mason team up to find out when and where the next bomb will go off. The unequal duo comes on the trail of a major plot, apparently involving a multi-million dollar robbery of the French national bank.
Gripped by reality
After his princely performance in Cinderella, Bastille Day was only Richard Madden’s second starring role in a Hollywood-funded major production. The Scotsman was particularly keen on his pickpocket scenes being believable without the need for editing or even digital trickery. For example, he trained for weeks with a real, former crook, who now works as a consultant for the police, until he became an expert himself and everything looked authentic.
The film was originally set to open in Europe in February 2016. Because of the real terrorist attacks in and around Paris in November 2015 However, its release was delayed by a few months. “Bastille Day” was released in cinemas in Britain in April and in Germany in June 2016.
In France, the plant finally started on July 13, 2016, on the eve of the national holiday there, known as Bastille Day in English-speaking countries. However, a day later, the film was withdrawn from the distributor out of piety. In Nice, in the middle of the festivities, there was another serious attack that killed 86 people.
*