This timely, intelligent and emotional examination of state-sanctioned violence reveals a disturbingly universal story.

David Dufresne’s second feature, which screened to acclaim at the 2020 New York Film Festival, is an often eye-opening study of police brutality in France – specifically, it documents the gilet jaunes protest movement of 2018 and 2019. But, by sad, outrageous reality and circumstance, The Monopoly of Violence could just as easily have been about the USA, or Hong Kong, or the UK. Or Australia.

Using sociologist Max Weber’s assertion that the state claims the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force as a jumping-off point, Dufresne begins a topical and detailed debate on the issue. Presenting a wealth of frequently shocking phone-shot footage of the gilet jaunes protests alongside the varied, revealing responses of academics, lawyers, philosophers, union officials, police officers and victims of police aggression, the film is a resonant clarion call for the rights of the citizen and the responsibilities of the State.

“A fascinating, conversation-starting documentary … and a work of tangible, visceral power.” – The Film Stage