Year: 2020
Runtime: 116 min
Language: French
Director: Olivier Marchal
In the dangerous underbelly of Marseille, the Orsoni clan is brutally murdered at the Bar du Telephone, plunging the city into chaos. Richard Vronski, a hardened and unconventional police officer leading an anti-gang task force, is determined to uncover the truth behind the massacre. As new Commissioner Angel Leonetti attempts to control the city's escalating violence, Vronski and his team confront rivalries, intense danger, and face difficult sacrifices in a whirlwind of high-stakes action.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Rogue City (2020), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
When an armed anti-gang squad from Marseille, led by Richard Vronski, is tasked with escorting notorious gang leader Paul Maranzano between prisons, a request comes that changes everything. Maranzano seeks to visit his ailing wife, who is suffering from terminal cancer, and at her request, he ultimately suffocates her with a pillow, believing he is relieving her pain. In a grim twist of fate, he expresses gratitude to Vronski for facilitating the visit.
Meanwhile, chaos unfolds as a gang connected to the Corsican family, the Bastianis, executes a mass shooting at an outdoor bar, targeting a rival gang led by Franck Nadal. The attack leaves nine people dead, and amidst the chaos, a gang member named Rizzo gets knocked down but manages to escape the shootout by blending in with the victims. However, the police apprehend him for questioning. During an interrogation, it’s revealed that Detective Mario Costa has been corruptly working for the Bastianis, having previously tipped them off about the rival gang’s visit to the bar. To eliminate Rizzo and cover his tracks, Costa stages a fight and murders him, even going so far as to plant his service weapon in Rizzo’s hands to frame him.
As tensions rise within the police ranks, Detective Willy Kapellian](/actor/stanislas-merhar) struggles with personal issues, including a deteriorating marriage and excessive drinking. His recklessness lands him in a precarious situation one night when he drives away with Leonetti’s daughter after an altercation, only to be fired upon by gang members. Knowing the implications of the incident, Captain Vronski steps in to take Willy’s blood alcohol test to protect him from losing his job, resulting in his own suspension after Chief Leonetti discovers the truth.
In a move to redeem themselves, Vronski’s unit plans an unauthorized ambush on the Bastianis while they conduct a major drug deal. They utilize confiscated weapons in their mission, thanks to a tip from Maranzano. However, rival gang activity disrupts their plans as Nadal learns of the operation through Costa’s corrupt practices. During the ensuing four-way gunfight, a serious incident occurs in which an undercover narcotics agent embedded with the Spanish drug smugglers is killed, escalating the conflict even further. Shortly afterward, in the wake of damning evidence against Willy surfacing, he takes the unthinkable step of killing his family and then himself, unable to cope with his reality.
As the web of corruption tightens, Nadal kills Costa and his wife in revenge for perceived betrayal. The stakes rise when Leonetti’s daughter discovers incriminating evidence in Costa’s diary, linking him to payments from the Bastianis. This pivotal moment propels Vronski into a deep entanglement with criminal elements as the Narcotics Bureau Special Ops chief Stephan Jakowitz confronts him about his unit’s involvement in the ambush, further complicating Vronski’s position.
Desperate to extricate himself from impending disaster, Vronski agrees to work with the Bastianis to eliminate Nadal and his crew. After accomplishing this, he cleverly ensures that the blame for the undercover officer’s death falls on them, enabling Leonetti to close the case against Nadal’s gang, ultimately leading to Vronski’s resignation. He prepares to escape with a portion of the spoils, leaving behind the other half for his surviving unit members, Zach and Max.
However, the narrative takes a dark turn as members of the anti-gang unit are systematically hunted down, including Vronski himself. The film crescendos with the murder of Chief Leonetti and the Bastiani matriarch, revealing a larger plot orchestrated by the head of Special Ops to avenge the loss of their undercover agent. As the film concludes, an ominous scene depicts the chief observing the impending demise of Leonetti’s daughter, leaving audiences shocked by the intricate layers of betrayal and reprisal that have unfolded.
Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04
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