Squad 36 (2025) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film takes place in the Paris metropolitan area, primarily in Bobigny, a suburb known for high tension between crime rings and law enforcement. Key locations include police headquarters, cafes, and metro stations, creating an urban backdrop of contemporary French city life.

• paris
• bobigny
• setting
• location
• french crime film

The Anti-Squad is a specialized police unit operating out of Bobigny that fights urban crime in the Paris suburbs. Led by Sami Belkaïm, the team includes officers like Antoine Cerda and works within a corrupt system where high-ranking officials manipulate investigations for personal gain.

• anti-squad
• police unit
• bobigny
• crime unit

Squad 36 explores three interconnected themes: corruption within the police institution, the impact of personal trauma on decision-making, and the elusive nature of justice when the system itself is compromised. These themes weave together to depict a world where truth struggles to prevail against institutional self-protection.

• corruption
• trauma
• justice
• themes
• police corruption

Antoine Cerda is the film's protagonist, a seasoned Anti-Squad officer portrayed by Victor Belmondo. Known for his aggressive style and fierce loyalty, he was reassigned to the Anti-Crime Brigade after being sanctioned by the General Inspectorate. His violent childhood fuels his determination to uncover the truth, even when it puts him at odds with his superiors.

• antoine cerda
• victor belmondo
• protagonist
• anti-squad

Sami Belkaïm is the charismatic but ruthless leader of the Anti-Squad, played by Tewfik Jallab. He manipulates his team to orchestrate murders and cover-ups, prioritizing power and money over the lives of his colleagues. His self-destructive choices ultimately lead to his downfall.

• sami belkaïm
• tewfik jallab
• leader
• villain
• anti-squad

Corruption in Squad 36 is systemic, with high-ranking officials like Charles Balestra orchestrating off-the-books missions and cover-ups to protect criminals and steal money. The film shows how the police department tolerates corruption, allowing murders of honest officers to go unpunished while burying evidence of wrongdoing.

• corruption
• cover-up
• police corruption
• charles balestra

Charles Balestra, played by Yvan Attal, is a high-ranking police official who navigates power dynamics and orchestrates cover-ups. He plays a central role in the money-stealing scheme and manipulates investigations to protect the department's reputation by shifting blame onto others.

• charles balestra
• yvan attal
• police official
• corruption

Squad 36 is set in contemporary times, reflected in its urban settings like metro stations, modern police headquarters, and current French metropolitan life. The film does not anchor itself to a specific historical era but instead presents a present-day look at French urban crime and police corruption.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• paris

Hanna, played by Juliette Dol, is Antoine Cerda's girlfriend and fellow Anti-Squad member. She balances between caution and commitment throughout the investigation. As the danger escalates, she becomes a target and ultimately leaves law enforcement, illustrating the personal toll the case takes on officers.

• hanna
• juliette dol
• antoine girlfriend
• anti-squad

Richard Esteves, portrayed by Soufiane Guerrab, is a fellow officer plagued by guilt after participating in a botched off-the-books mission. Carrying anxiety and secrecy to protect his family, his testimony and notes eventually reveal the hidden costs of undercover operations and the dangers of challenging the corrupt system.

• richard esteves
• soufiane guerrab
• officer
• testimony

The film presents justice as elusive within a corrupted institution. Antoine pursues the truth while powerful figures work to silence him and bury the money trail. The ending shows how the system masks murder and theft with official narratives, leaving real accountability impossible and questioning whether true justice can exist within a corrupt system.

• justice
• ending
• accountability
• systemic corruption

Mahmoudi, played by Jean-Michel Correia, is a drug lord whose confrontation with the anti-squad triggers the chain of violent events. While initially blamed for the murders, the deeper truth reveals a broader cycle of corruption that extends beyond him to the police force itself.

• mahmoudi
• drug lord
• crime boss
• corruption