Driss (Reda Kateb) became a narcotics police officer investigating drug traffickers and Manuel (Matthias Schoenaerts) became one of those drug traffickers. When he is promoted to the Stups, his return upsets balances and puts Manuel in danger. French director David Oelhoffen (Viggo Mortensen starrer 'Far From Men') returns to the Venice competition with 'Close Enemies,' a gritty crime … Driss and Manuel are two childhood friends who end up taking opposite paths: Manuel chose to embrace the thug life, while Driss becomes a cop. ‘Close Enemies’ is yet another interpretation of the crime drama genre that seems quite familiar but it entertaining nonetheless. Mean-streets Belgian-French crime drama Close Enemies (original title Frères Ennemis) follows two men who grew up together in a French banlieue suburb made up of Moroccan/Algerian families.They took very different paths in their lives. With Matthias Schoenaerts, Reda Kateb, Adel Bencherif, Sofiane Zermani. It was selected to be screened in the main competition section of the 75th Venice International Film Festival. Manuel is at the head of drug trafficking, while Driss has become a cop. Close Enemies is a 2018 Belgian-French drama film directed by David Oelhoffen. When Manuel's biggest deal goes terribly wrong, the two men meet again and come to realize they both need each other to survive in their worlds. Instead of staying loyal only to the quintessential elements of the genre, ‘Close Enemies’ instills themes related to one’s social identity and further reflects this onto the actions of its characters. Directed by David Oelhoffen.

Close Enemies Film poster Directed byDavid Oelhoffen Written byDavid Oelhoffen StarringMatthias Schoenaerts Release date 1 September 2018 3 October 2018 3 October 2018 CountryBelgium France LanguageFrench Film Review: ‘Close Enemies’ (Frères Ennemis) A gritty, accomplished but familiar crime drama with Reda Kateb and Matthias Schoenaerts, about brotherhood across the banlieue barricades.