Ron Chow This is the first and only film I have seen by Cedric Kahn, so I have no way of judging if this is one of his better works, or less. I notice some reviewers expressed a total dislike for this film, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.As the film began, the drive took place, and the quibbles emerged between Antoine and his wife, I began to relate to the film because this scenario probably happens daily in many places across the world between a husband and a wife. What made this incident unique, and dramatic, is the other factors that came to play - encounters with a dangerous convict on the run by both protagonists, and Antoine's indulgence of alcohol resulting in him committing certain out-of-ordinary acts. I began to developed a sense of disdain for Antoine as the film progressed, until I saw redemption toward the end.This is a slow film that demands attention. It is one of the more memorable, contemporary French films that I have experienced in the past decade. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys French cinema.

lastliberal 2004 was a good year for foreign films with Feux rouges and Mar adentro and Pedro Almodóvar's La Mala educación. Feux rouges is a great thriller in the style of Hitchcock.Antoine (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) and Hélène (Carole Bouquet) play husband an wife who bicker with each other on a road trip to pick up their children from Summer camp. I bet that many, if not most, husbands may see a lot of themselves in Antoine; and many wives will see themselves in Hélène. It makes you really think about marriage.They split up, with one taking the train, and both come in contact with an escaped convict (Vincent Deniard, in his first film). What happens is the second best part of this film and what makes it a Hitchcock thriller.Not to be missed.

chandler-47 "Feux rouges" is an interesting thriller about a man searching for his wife. The plot turns when he meets a criminal and takes him up with his car on a night trip to Bordeaux. The film is thrilling until the end because you do not know what happens next. The audience is misled by some red herrings that could have been pulled out by Hitchcock. The herrings are no plot holes because the whole film is a dream. It begins with the man sitting in a bar waiting for his wife. Imagine you put this scene at the end of the movie with the man waking up out of a short sleep. It also explains the improbable happy ending and the dreamlike pictures of the night trip.Nevertheless, it could have been a better movie. Based on a story by Georges Simeon it lacks of character building. The characters are one-sided and not very likable. Underacting is sometimes part of the film noir, unfortunately it does not work here.

Mort-31 After "L'ennui", this was the second Cédric-Kahn-movie I have seen, and I found it great. Kahn proves himself a specialist on ridiculous men lacking self-confidence and absolutely inapt to retain some dignity in a modern world like this.The thriller plot, as stated by some earlier commentators, may be a little weak, especially as regards the "man on the run" (he is obviously taken directly from the Simenon novel but his character is neither fish nor foul). But this is not what it is all about. The thriller plot is merely an excuse to give a touching and disturbing portrayal of character Antoine (and his marriage).Let me answer to two of the "plot holes" discovered by two other commentators: Antoine's drinking does make sense; he drinks because of frustration and a minority complex for not feeling man enough in the presence of his successful wife. His drinking is a childish act of defiance, he is not a sensible grown-up, not a man (as he keeps repeating himself). And of course, he doesn't recall all these telephone numbers from his memory; as indicated with one of the first calls, he calls directory inquiries and has himself connected to the respective partner each time (remember, there is cuts between the various calls).Red Lights is a brilliant character study concealed as a masterpiece of suspense. Darroussin gives a touching performance in his role as hero and anti-hero at the same time. He is not particularly likable but still makes us feel sorry for him.The ending, which I am not going to reveal here, is stirring in a very subtle way because above all it raises the question how it is all going to go on.I like stories in which weird things happen out of character logic. This is a particular successful one.