Dirty Like an Angel (1991), directed by Catherine Breillat, is a French drama blending "policier" genre tropes with exploration of power dynamics, sexuality, and transgression. The film follows a jaded detective, Georges (Claude Brasseur), whose life intersects with a manipulative, evolving female character, Barbara (Lio), navigating themes of corruption and shifting agency. For a deeper look, check Slant Magazine's review The Cinematheque The Cinematheque / Dirty Like an Angel
: Explores the "shame and pleasure" themes that Breillat claims define all her work. Letterboxd Community Reviews Dirty Like an Angel -Catherine Breillat- 1991-
The film follows Georges (Claude Brasseur), a corrupt, wealthy, and cynical former police inspector now working as a private investigator. He becomes obsessed with Barbara (Lio), a young, seemingly innocent woman whom he has been hired to follow. Georges’s voyeuristic surveillance turns into a possessive desire to “save” her from her lover, a violent gangster. Dirty Like an Angel (1991), directed by Catherine
(played by the pop star Lio), Georges feels a sense of betrayal. However, after a cancer operation, he is introduced to the young, provincial Barbara and becomes intensely obsessed with her IFC Center (played by the pop star Lio), Georges feels
The film is a rarity. As of 2025, no major 4K restoration exists, though a standard-definition digital transfer occasionally surfaces on MUBI or niche DVD imports (notably the German "Absolut Medien" edition). Seek it out not for entertainment, but for education. Catherine Breillat wrote a novel called Sale comme un ange before directing it, and reading the text alongside the film reveals her precision.