Above the Law

Frank Valken, a suave and daring thief, believes his latest score is the perfect exit from a life of crime. He and his crew celebrate a carefully planned heist that feels clean and certain, the kind that would make him untouchable. Yet the victory tastes hollow when a thirty year old case resurfaces, dragging Valken back into a maze of old debts and hidden enemies. The investigation ties familiar names to dangerous links. The city becomes a chessboard where every move could blow apart the present. Lubna Azabal stars as Lucie Tesla, a stubborn investigator who reconnects the dots between the current caper and the long buried history. Olivier Gourmet plays Valken with a wary calm that deepens the tension, and the tension tightens with each passing beat, that keeps viewers on edge.

Directed by Jean-François Hensgens and François Troukens, Above the Law adapts a story from Giordano Gederlini. Released in 2017, this Belgian crime thriller blends procedural grit with high stakes chaos, anchored by tight performances and relentless pace.

Critics note a tight, multi layered plot that weighs loyalty against guilt while keeping the focus on clever heist mechanics. The film foregrounds lingering consequences and the pull of the past. Performances matter, particularly Lubna Azabal as Lucie Tesla and Olivier Gourmet as Frank Valken, giving complexity to the roles.

There are no major awards or nominations documented for Above the Law. The film largely circulated in festival and distributor circuits without securing high profile accolades, a common fate for regional European crime thrillers that operate on a tight budget and localized appeal.

The picture has not spawned a broad cultural footprint or widely cited quotes. It stands as a solid European crime entry for fans who value grounded performances and a no nonsense procedural vibe over splashy set pieces, offering a compact alternative to bigger thrillers for genre fans.