Thieves

Year: 1996

Runtime: 117 min

Language: French

Director: André Téchiné

DramaRomanceCrime

Driven by a need for thrills, Ivan's involvement in car theft spirals into a dangerous situation with far-reaching consequences. His actions impact his brother Alex, who is a police officer dedicated to upholding the law, and Juliette, a captivating woman who finds herself drawn into their complicated lives. As their paths intertwine, a web of crime, forbidden desire, and escalating drama threatens to consume them all.

Thieves (1996) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Thieves (1996) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the shadowed streets of Lyon’s La Duchère district, a family’s fractured legacy hangs like a quiet storm. Justin, a boy from a modest Rhône‑Alpes town, awakens to the news that his father, Ivan, is gone, while his widowed grandfather, Victor, tries to hold together the remnants of a life built on both love and danger. The funeral draws together a cast of uneasy relatives: Alex, Ivan’s younger brother and a police officer who has chosen the badge over family loyalty, Mireille, the mother whose grief fuels lingering tensions, and Juliette, a striking woman whose presence seems to reverberate through every corner of their world.

Ivan commands a magnetic presence, operating a popular night‑club that doubles as a stage for drag performances and an unspoken hub for the city’s undercurrents. His appetite for excitement and control pulls him into a web of risk‑filled ventures that clash with the rigid order Alex strives to uphold in his precinct. The brothers embody a stark dichotomy—one chasing the rush of outlaw freedom, the other policing the same streets—creating a tension that is as personal as it is professional.

Juliette arrives as both a catalyst and a mystery, her allure drawing Alex into a complicated liaison that blurs the lines between duty and desire. Her connections to other figures, such as her brother Jimmy and the introspective philosopher Marie, weave her further into the tangled tapestry of loyalties and hidden motives. Through her, the fragile balance between law, crime, and yearning becomes ever more precarious, hinting at consequences that could ripple far beyond their immediate circle.

The film unfolds with a moody, atmospheric tone, blending the gritty realism of Lyon’s urban landscape with the seductive allure of night‑life spectacle. It explores themes of family, forbidden attraction, and the thin veil separating order from chaos, inviting the audience to linger in the uneasy space where every glance, secret, and whispered promise could tip the scales.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 at 15:09

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Crime Sagas With Fractured Family Ties like in Thieves

Stories where loyalty to family conflicts with a life of crime.If you liked the dynamic between the criminal Ivan and his cop brother Alex in Thieves, explore more movies like it. This list features similar crime drama stories centered on family estrangement, moral conflict, and the heavy emotional fallout of lives lived on opposite sides of the law.

broodingtensegrievingfatalisticclaustrophobicmoral conflict

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow one or more family members whose paths diverge into crime and law enforcement or moral righteousness. The central conflict arises from the collision of these worlds, forcing characters to choose between blood loyalty and their principles, often leading to tragic sacrifices and irreversible emotional damage.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the family unit as the primary source of drama within a crime story. They share a heavy emotional weight, complex character relationships, and a tone that balances personal tragedy with the tense mechanics of criminal life.

Fatalistic Romances in a Bleak World like in Thieves

Love stories doomed by dangerous circumstances and tragic pasts.Fans of the complicated, doomed attraction in Thieves will find more movies with similar dark romance themes. These films feature love stories intertwined with crime, psychological trauma, and fatal consequences, resulting in a bittersweet, melancholic viewing experience.

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Narrative Summary

The romantic arc in these films is rarely a source of salvation. Instead, love emerges as a complicating factor within a pre-existing web of trouble. The attraction is powerful but tainted by danger, past trauma, or moral compromise, making the relationship itself a catalyst for further drama and loss.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific emotional blend of high romance and heavy drama within a dark setting. They are united by a brooding, melancholic mood, a steady pacing that allows the doomed relationship to unfold, and a tone that acknowledges the beauty of connection amidst inevitable tragedy.

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Thieves Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Thieves

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More About Thieves

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