Infiltré(e)”: A Thrilling French Series with a Unique Take on Infiltration
What’s It About?
“Infiltré(e),” currently airing every Monday night on France 2, stars Audrey Fleurot as Aurélie, a chemist working for the national police. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she is tasked with infiltrating a drug trafficking network to protect her son. She teams up with Commissioner Max Vernet, portrayed by Thierry Neuvic, who strives to keep her safe as she puts her life on the line to accomplish her mission. Along the way, she encounters the enigmatic Jésus, played by Sumaï Cardenas, who runs the drug network from Marseille.
Does French Infiltration Like This Really Exist?
While American television has often explored the theme of infiltration, it’s a subject seldom tackled by French screenwriters. This is largely due to the fact that infiltration in the French police force is rarely practiced, as revealed by Frédéric Krivine, the series’ screenwriter.
“Americans, the British, and even the Israelis engage in infiltration and establish long-term agents. In France, it doesn’t work that way at all. The French police may identify a source they find interesting and simply pay them to work for them. There might be occasional short-term infiltrations.”
“The SIAT (Service Interministériel d’Assistance Technique) might send an agent to act as a dealer for a day. They’ll assume a new identity, set up meetings, and at the end of the day, they go back home.” Therefore, Aurélie’s story is purely a work of fiction created by the screenwriter.
“It’s not a documentary series but a well-researched one,” emphasized the screenwriter, known for his work on the historical drama series “Un Village Français.” The aim wasn’t to present a realistic series but rather to offer engaging fiction that would appeal to a wide audience.
“We are dramatists. We don’t create slow and realistic series like ‘The Wire.’ It’s one of the greatest series of recent years, but half the people who watch it get bored during the first few episodes. It takes time to set up. On France 2, we couldn’t do that.”
Catch two new, exclusive episodes of “Infiltré(e)” on Monday, October 2nd, starting at 9:10 PM on France 2.