To Lifethe new French thriller directed by Rodolphe Lauga and available on Netflix since January 10, 2025, stars Guillaume Canet in the role of Franck Lazareff, a former member of GIGN. Alongside Stéphane Caillard, who plays his wife Léo, and Nassim Lyes in the role of his friend Ben, the film plunges spectators into a breathtaking race against time.
The storyline follows Franck, who, after leaving GIGN, leads a peaceful life with his pregnant wife. Their peace is abruptly interrupted when a criminal organization linked to Franck's past bursts into their home and kidnaps Léo. Forced to obey the orders of this small group to save his wife, Franck, helped by his former colleague Ben, has only four hours to act.
To Life with Guillaume Canet: is the film based on a true story?
AlthoughTo Life presents a realistic and immersive plot, the film is not based on a true story. The scenario is indeed a work of fiction co-written by the husband of Marion Cotillard and Rodolphe Lauga, which is inspired by the world of French special forces, in particular the GIGN, to create an authentic atmosphere. The filmmakers collaborated with former members of the GIGN to ensure an accurate depiction of the procedures and operations of this elite unit.
The movie To Lifereleased in January 2025 in streaming on Netflix: this is why the GIGN vetoed certain scenes
When producingTo Lifecertain scenes were deemed too realistic by the GIGN, leading to requests for modifications or deletions. “Let’s say there were two scenarios. Either we explained to them that this or that scene would not happen like that in realityand as Guillaume Canet wanted a film that was as realistic as possible, he took this into account (…) Or, on the contrary, that it would actually happen like that, but that I did not want it to be shown, for different reasons. And this too, Guillaume accepted perfectly, because he understood that we wanted to preserve our confidentiality, and that certain things were not intended to be exposed to the general public. declared Ghislain Réty, commander of a unit, on the website of the Gendarmerie.
Despite these adjustments, the film maintains an intensity and authenticity that immerses the viewer in the heart of the action. Guillaume Canet, who underwent intensive training for this role, directs the majority of the action scenes himself, adding an additional dimension to the realism of the film. To Life is a captivating thriller that offers a deep immersion into the world of French special forces, while exploring the personal and moral dilemmas of its characters.
