District B13 Ultimatum
Encyclopedia
District 13: Ultimatum is a 2009 French film also known as Banlieue 13, District Thirteen 2, District B13: Ultimatum, and B13-u. The film, directed by Patrick Alessandrin, is the sequel
to the 2004 French action film District 13. District 13 Ultimatum stars David Belle
and Cyril Raffaelli
reprising their original roles of Leïto and Damien, respectively. Luc Besson
, who co-produced and co-wrote District 13, is the screenwriter and producer.
to ravaged District 13. The death of gang overlord Taha Ben Mahmoud has left a power vacuum
, and total control of the area is now being fought over by five rival territorial gang lords who want to step into Taha's position. After taking out a major drug dealer, Damien is framed for drug dealing and arrested, but manages to make a call to Leïto.
Meanwhile, corrupt government agents from the Department of Internal State Security (DISS), led by Gassman are bent on destroying the five tower blocks at the heart of District 13 with tactical precision bombing, and building luxury flats after the area is cleared. In order to spark conflict with the district's gangs, they shoot several cops, dump their car in District 13, and prompt several gang members into gunning down the vehicle. The footage of the incident convinces the President to carry out the strike. However, a group of teens videotaped the agents as they shot the cops themselves. The DISS agents soon come after the teen to arrest him and seize the recording, but the youth manages to slip his memory card to Leïto.
Leïto escapes the cops in District 13 and goes to rescue Damien. After freeing Damien from his cell, they discuss the events and further plans, resolving to gather enough proof to expose the DISS agents. While Damien distracts the guards, Leïto breaks into Gassman's office to steal his hard-drive for the evidence that they need. Once they escape and return to District 13, Damien and Leïto convince the five gang lords to band together to prevent the destruction of the district. While the French president struggles with the decision to destroy District 13 even with the area evacuated, a large number of gang members storm parliament. When they eventually reach the president and show him the information that they acquired, Gassman takes the president hostage and tries to force him to carry out the mass demolition. Leïto, Damien, and the gang lords succeed in freeing the president and incapacitating Gassman, earning the president's thanks and a promise to fund District 13's restoration.
With the conflict over and District 13 completely evacuated, the gang lords then decide that it would be better to rebuild District 13 anew rather than try to patch up its remnants. The movie ends with the president authorizing the strike and breathing a sigh of relief.
At the credits, there is a short clip showing the president, the gang lords, Damien and Leïto all joking around and smoking cigars together.
version District B13 Ultimatum was released in France on February 18, 2009. The English language
version of District 13: Ultimatum was released in the United Kingdom
on October 26, 2009, and it premiered in the US in a free screening in New York on January 28, 2010.
The DVD/Blu-ray was released in France on August 19, 2009. The Region 1 version was released on April 27, 2010.
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the 2004 French action film District 13. District 13 Ultimatum stars David Belle
David Belle
David Belle is well known as the founder of Parkour. Belle founded Parkour based on his training and the teachings from his father Raymond Belle. The discipline has since spread around the world and now has adherents in virtually every country...
and Cyril Raffaelli
Cyril Raffaelli
Cyril Raffaelli is a French traceur, martial artist and stuntman.-Biography:Utilizing shotokan karate and wushu, Raffaelli has been a regular in films with Luc Besson and David Belle, the latter being a friend of his.-Filmography:...
reprising their original roles of Leïto and Damien, respectively. Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
, who co-produced and co-wrote District 13, is the screenwriter and producer.
Plot
Three years after the events of the original film, the authorities are attempting to return law and orderLaw and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
to ravaged District 13. The death of gang overlord Taha Ben Mahmoud has left a power vacuum
Power vacuum
A power vacuum is, in its broadest sense, an expression for a condition that exists when someone has lost control of something and no one has replaced them. It is usually used to refer to a political situation that can occur when a government has no identifiable central authority...
, and total control of the area is now being fought over by five rival territorial gang lords who want to step into Taha's position. After taking out a major drug dealer, Damien is framed for drug dealing and arrested, but manages to make a call to Leïto.
Meanwhile, corrupt government agents from the Department of Internal State Security (DISS), led by Gassman are bent on destroying the five tower blocks at the heart of District 13 with tactical precision bombing, and building luxury flats after the area is cleared. In order to spark conflict with the district's gangs, they shoot several cops, dump their car in District 13, and prompt several gang members into gunning down the vehicle. The footage of the incident convinces the President to carry out the strike. However, a group of teens videotaped the agents as they shot the cops themselves. The DISS agents soon come after the teen to arrest him and seize the recording, but the youth manages to slip his memory card to Leïto.
Leïto escapes the cops in District 13 and goes to rescue Damien. After freeing Damien from his cell, they discuss the events and further plans, resolving to gather enough proof to expose the DISS agents. While Damien distracts the guards, Leïto breaks into Gassman's office to steal his hard-drive for the evidence that they need. Once they escape and return to District 13, Damien and Leïto convince the five gang lords to band together to prevent the destruction of the district. While the French president struggles with the decision to destroy District 13 even with the area evacuated, a large number of gang members storm parliament. When they eventually reach the president and show him the information that they acquired, Gassman takes the president hostage and tries to force him to carry out the mass demolition. Leïto, Damien, and the gang lords succeed in freeing the president and incapacitating Gassman, earning the president's thanks and a promise to fund District 13's restoration.
With the conflict over and District 13 completely evacuated, the gang lords then decide that it would be better to rebuild District 13 anew rather than try to patch up its remnants. The movie ends with the president authorizing the strike and breathing a sigh of relief.
At the credits, there is a short clip showing the president, the gang lords, Damien and Leïto all joking around and smoking cigars together.
Cast
- David BelleDavid BelleDavid Belle is well known as the founder of Parkour. Belle founded Parkour based on his training and the teachings from his father Raymond Belle. The discipline has since spread around the world and now has adherents in virtually every country...
as Leïto - Cyril RaffaelliCyril RaffaelliCyril Raffaelli is a French traceur, martial artist and stuntman.-Biography:Utilizing shotokan karate and wushu, Raffaelli has been a regular in films with Luc Besson and David Belle, the latter being a friend of his.-Filmography:...
as Damien Tomaso - Philippe TorretonPhilippe TorretonPhilippe Torreton is a French actor.-Biography:Born in Rouen, to a teacher mother, and fireman father, Torreton grew up in a suburb of the city...
as President - Daniel Duval as Walter Gassman
- Elodie YungElodie YungElodie Yung is a French actress. Her mother is French and her father of Cambodian origin. She graduated from the Acting International School in 2002 and has practiced Karate for over ten years....
as Tao - MC Jean Gab'1 as Molko
- La FouineLa FouineLaouni Mouhid, commonly known by his alias La Fouine or Fouiskin , is a French rapper of Moroccan origins from the city of Trappes, Yvelines in the Paris western suburbs. He is a growing figure of French rap. La Fouine signed with Sony Records in 2003 and released his debut album, Bourré au son,...
as Ali-K - James Deano as Karl le skin
- Fabrice Fletzinger as Little Montana
- Pierre-Marie Mosconi as Roland
- Sophie Ducasse as Sonya
Reception
The film holds a "Fresh" rating of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes. It holds a similar rating on Metacritic, with a score of 64 out of 100.Releases
The original French languageFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
version District B13 Ultimatum was released in France on February 18, 2009. The English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version of District 13: Ultimatum was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on October 26, 2009, and it premiered in the US in a free screening in New York on January 28, 2010.
The DVD/Blu-ray was released in France on August 19, 2009. The Region 1 version was released on April 27, 2010.
External links
- District B13: Ultimatum review from Variety.com