Gilbert Melki

Gilbert Melki has provided tour de force performances in both dramatic and comedic films since his 1992 debut in "Betty," director Claude Chabrol's tale of romantic conquest. One of Melki's stand-out roles remains that of Pascal Manise in Lucas Belvaux's "The Trilogy." Beginning with the first film "On The Run" (though it's worth noting that Belvaux's "Rashamon"-like trilogy can be viewed in any order), Melki smoldered as Pascal, the cop relentlessly pursuing a prison escapee. Even though the focus of the film was the fugitive Bruno Le Roux, Melki infused his role with an indisputable allure. His character was after LeRoux not just to add another notch on his belt of successful collars, but because he was desperate to redeem himself in the eyes of his colleagues in the police department. And in the final film, "After The Life," when the focus did shift to his character, Melki let the audience in even more, revealing that Pascal was more than just a dogged detective. Indeed, his most soul-wrenching conflict was not with his quarry, but with his morphine-addict wife, a woman he didn't know how to love without hurting.