For the French original version of The Office, see Le Bureau.
The Bureau (original title: Le Bureau des Légendes) is a Frenchpolitical thriller television series created by Éric Rochant and produced by TOP – The Oligarchs Productions and Canal+, which revolves around the lives of agents of the DGSE (General Directorate of External Security), France's principal external security service. Originally aired in France from 27 April 2015, it was launched in the United States and Canada on iTunes on 1 June 2016 as part of a new international "Episodic Cinema" label, quickly reaching the Top Five.[1][2] In the United Kingdom, the series was released exclusively by Amazon Prime on 17 June 2016.[3][4]
April 27, 2015 (2015-04-27) – May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)
The first season received positive reviews in both France and other countries, and won several awards. The second season has been universally acclaimed, and has even been seen by some as the best television ever produced in France.[5] The third and fourth seasons, respectively aired in France beginning 22 May 2017[6] and 22 October 2018,[7] have met with further acclaim, with praise for the show's acting, pacing, plot and realism.[8] There is also a fifth season.
The Bureau is based upon real accounts by former spies and inspired by contemporary events, and centres on the daily life and missions of agents within France's Directorate-General for External Security, its principal external security service. It focuses on the "Bureau of Legends", responsible for training and handling deep-cover agents (operating 'under legend') on long-term missions in areas with French interests, especially in North Africa and the Middle East. Living under false identities for years, these agents' missions are to identify and recruit good intelligence sources.
The series features intelligence officer Guillaume Debailly, codenamed "Malotru" (literally "Lout") who returns to Paris after six years undercover in Damascus. He has to face the challenge of reconnecting with his daughter, ex-wife, colleagues, and even his old self. But his return to 'normal life' proves difficult, especially when he discovers that Nadia, who was his love in Damascus, is now also in Paris. The first season follows his attempts to navigate the rules of life as a spy, and his increasingly tenuous position with Nadia.
The second season continues with the same themes, four months later, but also focuses on another character from the first season, Marina Loiseau. She is leaving for Tehran to work undercover as a specialist in seismology, in order to gather intelligence about Iran's nuclear weapons programme. Guillaume has been promoted to deputy director but also becomes a double agent on behalf of the CIA. He becomes increasingly desperate to resolve the situation with Nadia, which culminates in serious consequences for them both. Meanwhile, the DGSE has the challenge of a bloodthirsty French jihadist who is publicly taunting France.
Mathieu Kassovitz as Guillaume Debailly, codename "Malotru" (Lout). After six years undercover in Damascus, Syria, he returns to Paris but finds it difficult to re-adapt to a more normal life. When he learns that Nadia El Mansour, his lover in Damascus, is in Paris, he breaks the rules and renews their affair, returning to his false identity as Paul Lefebvre. (season 1– )
Sara Giraudeau as Marina Loiseau, codename "Phénomène" (Phenomenon) later "Rocambole", a young and brilliant woman who has been cast to become the next deep-cover agent pretending to be a seismologist. She is under intense training to prepare an infiltration of the Iranian nuclear industry and later the Russian cybercenter. (season 1– )
Jean-Pierre Darroussin as Henri Duflot, codename "Socrate", Director of the Service of Clandestines, a unit within the DGSE also known as the Bureau of Legends. (season 1–3, guest season 4-5)
Léa Drucker as Dr Laurène Balmes, a new recruit as a psychiatrist specialised in behavioural psychology. She assists the agents in manipulating their targets, but is also working as a double agent for the CIA. (season 1–3)
Zineb Triki as Nadia El Mansour, a Syrian professor of history and Debailly's lover from Damascus. Their relationship and her role in seeking to resolve the Syrian conflict form the crux of the first season. (season 1–3, 5, guest season 4)
Gilles Cohen as Colonel Marc Lauré, codename "MAG" (acronym standing for "Moule à gaufres" or Waffle iron), Director of Intelligence and Henri Duflot's boss. (season 1–4)
Florence Loiret-Caille as Marie-Jeanne Duthilleul, Debailly's handler, who becomes Loiseau's handler after Debailly's return from Syria. During season 3, she succeeds Henri Duflot as head of the Bureau. (season 1– )
Jonathan Zaccaï as Raymond Sisteron, a colleague of Debailly. (season 1– )
Jules Sagot as Sylvain Ellenstein, a DGSE agent specialised in electronic surveillance. (season 1– )
Mathieu Demy as Clément Migaud, head of the Iran service.
Alexandre Brasseur and Michaël Abiteboul as Pépé and Mémé (grandpa and grandma), two DGSE agents in charge of operational support (tailing, escort, logistics, intimidation). (season 1–2, 5)
Patrick Ligardes as Marcel Gaingouin, Director of Operations of the DGSE.
Mathieu Amalric as Jean-Jacques Angel (JJA), director of the DGSE security service (DSEC) (supposedly based on James Jesus Angleton). (season 4–5 )
Stefan Godin as Pierre de Lattre de Tassigny, Director General of the DGSE.
Alba Gaïa Bellugi as Prune Debailly, the daughter of Guillaume Debailly.
Elodie Navarre as Emilie Duflot, the wife of Henri Duflot. (season 1–3)
Irina Muluile as Daisy Bappé ("The Mule"), Operational support in France (field surveillance, escort, logistics). (season 1– )
Oleksiy Gorbunov as Mikhail Dmitrievich Karlov, Deputy Director of the FSB. (season 4–5)
Anne Azoulay as Liz Bernstein.
Stefan Crepon as César, who works with Sylvain in electronic surveillance, and ends up becoming a field agent. (season 4-5)
Broadcastedit
The Bureau originally came to French television in 2015 on the premium network Canal+ with a ten-episode first season. This was the best performing new drama on the French premium pay net since Les Revenants in 2012.[9] It was quickly renewed for a second season, broadcast in 2016, and further renewed for a third season in May 2016.[10]
In the United States and Canada, the series was first launched exclusively on iTunes where it remained in the Top Five most downloaded TV seasons for two weeks, with several episodes in the top 100 most downloaded and a 4.5/5 viewer rating.[11] In the United Kingdom, the series was released exclusively on Amazon Prime on 17 June 2016. In the United States, seasons 1-5 are now available to Amazon Prime customers, but require the purchase of either AMC Networks' Sundance Now or AMC+ premium channel additions.[12][13][14] In Germany, it was sold to RTL Crime for broadcast in 2016.[9] In Australia, it aired on public broadcaster SBS, and all five seasons are currently available on their free streaming service SBS On Demand until 30 November 2023.[15]
Receptionedit
Critical receptionedit
The programme was well received by audiences and critics. In its domestic market, the first season received very positive reviews. Le Monde commented on its "mastery of its subject" and "rigorous construction of narrative arcs" and lauded its "different and credible tone".[16]Le Nouvel Observateur compared it to Mad Men and congratulated it on "staging that exceptional routine with flair and breathing life into a convincing team of heroes".[17]
The second season was immensely popular. Télérama called it "captivating, subtly written, staged and acted: a mission accomplished" and Le Figaro stated that "to this day, this series is the best ever made in France".[5]
The New York Times described the series as "moody, cynical & stylish ... consistently smart and understated".[18]Broadwayworld also wrote a positive review, describing it as "a riveting spy story told with psychological sophistication and cinematic flair".[19]
TV France International: Export Fiction Award 2020[26]
Grand prix des Média: Best Fictional TV show 2020[27]
Referencesedit
^"French series The Bureau coming to iTunes". Retrieved 1 June 2016.
^"Canal+ greenlights new season of The Bureau". Rapid TV News.
^"The Bureau Season 1 on Amazon Prime UK". Amazon UK. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^"Amazon uncovers French spy drama". Retrieved 17 June 2016.
^ ab"Le Bureau des légendes : espion, es-tu là ?" [Le Bureau des légendes: Spy, are you there?]. Le Figaro. 4 May 2016.
^"Le Bureau des légendes : la série d'espionnage de Canal+ renouvelée pour une saison 3" [Le Bureau des légendes: Canal+ spy series renewed for a third season]. La Chaîne Info. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
^AlloCine. "Le Bureau des légendes : remaniements internes et cyberespionnage cet automne dans la saison 4". AlloCiné. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
^"Le Bureau des légendes : Les sept questions qu'on se pose... - Télé Star". 19 November 2018.
^ ab"RTL buys Canal+ series The Bureau - TBI Vision". 22 September 2015.
^""Le Bureau des Légendes": la saison 3 est en cours". 2 May 2016.
^"The Bureau, Season 1 (English Subtitles) on iTunes". iTunes.
^"Watch The Bureau (English Subtitled) Season 1 Episode – Amazon Video". Amazon UK.
bureau, series, french, original, version, office, bureau, bureau, original, title, bureau, légendes, french, political, thriller, television, series, created, Éric, rochant, produced, oligarchs, productions, canal, which, revolves, around, lives, agents, dgse. For the French original version of The Office see Le Bureau The Bureau original title Le Bureau des Legendes is a French political thriller television series created by Eric Rochant and produced by TOP The Oligarchs Productions and Canal which revolves around the lives of agents of the DGSE General Directorate of External Security France s principal external security service Originally aired in France from 27 April 2015 it was launched in the United States and Canada on iTunes on 1 June 2016 as part of a new international Episodic Cinema label quickly reaching the Top Five 1 2 In the United Kingdom the series was released exclusively by Amazon Prime on 17 June 2016 3 4 The BureauAlso known asLe Bureau des LegendesGenreSpy fiction DramaCreated byEric RochantWritten byEric Rochant Camille de Castelnau Cecile Ducrocq Emmanuel BourdieuDirected byEric Rochant Mathieu Demy Laila Marrakchi Helier Cisterne Jean Marc Moutout Samuel CollardeyStarringMathieu Kassovitz Sara Giraudeau Jean Pierre Darroussin Florence Loiret Caille Lea Drucker Zineb TrikiCountry of originFranceOriginal languageFrenchNo of seasons5No of episodes50 list of episodes ProductionExecutive producersEric Rochant Alex Berger Pascal BretonProduction locationsParis Morocco Russia Azerbaijan UkraineRunning time52 59 minutesProduction companiesFederation Entertainment TOP The Oligarchs ProductionsReleaseOriginal networkCanal Original releaseApril 27 2015 2015 04 27 May 4 2020 2020 05 04 The first season received positive reviews in both France and other countries and won several awards The second season has been universally acclaimed and has even been seen by some as the best television ever produced in France 5 The third and fourth seasons respectively aired in France beginning 22 May 2017 6 and 22 October 2018 7 have met with further acclaim with praise for the show s acting pacing plot and realism 8 There is also a fifth season Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast and characters 3 Broadcast 4 Reception 4 1 Critical reception 4 2 Awards 4 2 1 Season 1 4 2 2 Season 2 4 2 3 Season 3 4 2 4 Season 4 4 2 5 Season 5 5 References 6 External linksSynopsis editFurther information List of The Bureau episodes The Bureau is based upon real accounts by former spies and inspired by contemporary events and centres on the daily life and missions of agents within France s Directorate General for External Security its principal external security service It focuses on the Bureau of Legends responsible for training and handling deep cover agents operating under legend on long term missions in areas with French interests especially in North Africa and the Middle East Living under false identities for years these agents missions are to identify and recruit good intelligence sources The series features intelligence officer Guillaume Debailly codenamed Malotru literally Lout who returns to Paris after six years undercover in Damascus He has to face the challenge of reconnecting with his daughter ex wife colleagues and even his old self But his return to normal life proves difficult especially when he discovers that Nadia who was his love in Damascus is now also in Paris The first season follows his attempts to navigate the rules of life as a spy and his increasingly tenuous position with Nadia The second season continues with the same themes four months later but also focuses on another character from the first season Marina Loiseau She is leaving for Tehran to work undercover as a specialist in seismology in order to gather intelligence about Iran s nuclear weapons programme Guillaume has been promoted to deputy director but also becomes a double agent on behalf of the CIA He becomes increasingly desperate to resolve the situation with Nadia which culminates in serious consequences for them both Meanwhile the DGSE has the challenge of a bloodthirsty French jihadist who is publicly taunting France Cast and characters edit nbsp nbsp Sara Giraudeau and Matthieu Kassovitz lead the main cast of The Bureau Some character codenames are based on Captain Haddock s expletives Mathieu Kassovitz as Guillaume Debailly codename Malotru Lout After six years undercover in Damascus Syria he returns to Paris but finds it difficult to re adapt to a more normal life When he learns that Nadia El Mansour his lover in Damascus is in Paris he breaks the rules and renews their affair returning to his false identity as Paul Lefebvre season 1 Sara Giraudeau as Marina Loiseau codename Phenomene Phenomenon later Rocambole a young and brilliant woman who has been cast to become the next deep cover agent pretending to be a seismologist She is under intense training to prepare an infiltration of the Iranian nuclear industry and later the Russian cybercenter season 1 Jean Pierre Darroussin as Henri Duflot codename Socrate Director of the Service of Clandestines a unit within the DGSE also known as the Bureau of Legends season 1 3 guest season 4 5 Lea Drucker as Dr Laurene Balmes a new recruit as a psychiatrist specialised in behavioural psychology She assists the agents in manipulating their targets but is also working as a double agent for the CIA season 1 3 Zineb Triki as Nadia El Mansour a Syrian professor of history and Debailly s lover from Damascus Their relationship and her role in seeking to resolve the Syrian conflict form the crux of the first season season 1 3 5 guest season 4 Gilles Cohen as Colonel Marc Laure codename MAG acronym standing for Moule a gaufres or Waffle iron Director of Intelligence and Henri Duflot s boss season 1 4 Florence Loiret Caille as Marie Jeanne Duthilleul Debailly s handler who becomes Loiseau s handler after Debailly s return from Syria During season 3 she succeeds Henri Duflot as head of the Bureau season 1 Jonathan Zaccai as Raymond Sisteron a colleague of Debailly season 1 Pauline Etienne as Celine Delorme a regional expert on the Middle East and North Africa Jules Sagot as Sylvain Ellenstein a DGSE agent specialised in electronic surveillance season 1 Mathieu Demy as Clement Migaud head of the Iran service Alexandre Brasseur and Michael Abiteboul as Pepe and Meme grandpa and grandma two DGSE agents in charge of operational support tailing escort logistics intimidation season 1 2 5 Patrick Ligardes as Marcel Gaingouin Director of Operations of the DGSE Mathieu Amalric as Jean Jacques Angel JJA director of the DGSE security service DSEC supposedly based on James Jesus Angleton season 4 5 Stefan Godin as Pierre de Lattre de Tassigny Director General of the DGSE Alba Gaia Bellugi as Prune Debailly the daughter of Guillaume Debailly Elodie Navarre as Emilie Duflot the wife of Henri Duflot season 1 3 Artus as Jonas Maury the Syrian analyst Rajae as Rajae Rina the Palestinian analyst Alice Belaidi as Sabrina Boumaza season 2 Jean Marie Rollin as Edouard Rubin Irina Muluile as Daisy Bappe The Mule Operational support in France field surveillance escort logistics season 1 Oleksiy Gorbunov as Mikhail Dmitrievich Karlov Deputy Director of the FSB season 4 5 Anne Azoulay as Liz Bernstein Stefan Crepon as Cesar who works with Sylvain in electronic surveillance and ends up becoming a field agent season 4 5 Broadcast editThe Bureau originally came to French television in 2015 on the premium network Canal with a ten episode first season This was the best performing new drama on the French premium pay net since Les Revenants in 2012 9 It was quickly renewed for a second season broadcast in 2016 and further renewed for a third season in May 2016 10 In the United States and Canada the series was first launched exclusively on iTunes where it remained in the Top Five most downloaded TV seasons for two weeks with several episodes in the top 100 most downloaded and a 4 5 5 viewer rating 11 In the United Kingdom the series was released exclusively on Amazon Prime on 17 June 2016 In the United States seasons 1 5 are now available to Amazon Prime customers but require the purchase of either AMC Networks Sundance Now or AMC premium channel additions 12 13 14 In Germany it was sold to RTL Crime for broadcast in 2016 9 In Australia it aired on public broadcaster SBS and all five seasons are currently available on their free streaming service SBS On Demand until 30 November 2023 15 Reception editCritical reception edit The programme was well received by audiences and critics In its domestic market the first season received very positive reviews Le Monde commented on its mastery of its subject and rigorous construction of narrative arcs and lauded its different and credible tone 16 Le Nouvel Observateur compared it to Mad Men and congratulated it on staging that exceptional routine with flair and breathing life into a convincing team of heroes 17 The second season was immensely popular Telerama called it captivating subtly written staged and acted a mission accomplished and Le Figaro stated that to this day this series is the best ever made in France 5 The New York Times described the series as moody cynical amp stylish consistently smart and understated 18 Broadwayworld also wrote a positive review describing it as a riveting spy story told with psychological sophistication and cinematic flair 19 Awards edit Season 1 edit Series Mania Festival 2015 20 International Press Jury Award Best Male Actor Mathieu Kassovitz French Syndicate of Cinema Critics Award Best Series 21 French TV Critics Association Awards A C S Best Male Actor Mathieu Kassovitz 2015 22 Season 2 edit COLCOA French Film Festival 23 TV Series Jury Special Prize TV Series Audience Award French TV Critics Association Awards A C S Best Production 2016 22 French TV Critics Association Awards A C S Best Female Actor Sara Giraudeau 2016 24 Le Parisien Best French Series 2016 Telerama Top 10 Series 2016 N 1 Globes de Cristal Award Best French Series 2016 Season 3 edit French TV Critics Association Awards A C S Best Series 2017 24 French TV Critics Association Awards A C S Best Writing 2017 24 Season 4 edit Telerama Top 10 Series 2018 N 1 25 Season 5 edit TV France International Export Fiction Award 2020 26 Grand prix des Media Best Fictional TV show 2020 27 References edit French series The Bureau coming to iTunes Retrieved 1 June 2016 Canal greenlights new season of The Bureau Rapid TV News The Bureau Season 1 on Amazon Prime UK Amazon UK Retrieved 17 June 2016 Amazon uncovers French spy drama Retrieved 17 June 2016 a b Le Bureau des legendes espion es tu la Le Bureau des legendes Spy are you there Le Figaro 4 May 2016 Le Bureau des legendes la serie d espionnage de Canal renouvelee pour une saison 3 Le Bureau des legendes Canal spy series renewed for a third season La Chaine Info 9 June 2016 Retrieved 2 January 2017 AlloCine Le Bureau des legendes remaniements internes et cyberespionnage cet automne dans la saison 4 AlloCine Retrieved 8 October 2018 Le Bureau des legendes Les sept questions qu on se pose Tele Star 19 November 2018 a b RTL buys Canal series The Bureau TBI Vision 22 September 2015 Le Bureau des Legendes la saison 3 est en cours 2 May 2016 The Bureau Season 1 English Subtitles on iTunes iTunes Watch The Bureau English Subtitled Season 1 Episode Amazon Video Amazon UK Amazon uncovers French spy drama Series 5 of The Bureau premieres exclusively on AMC s Sundance Now in the UK UK Air Dates 8 September 2020 Retrieved 6 October 2020 The Bureau Drama retrieved 3 June 2021 Le Bureau des Legendes La face cachee des secrets Le Bureau des Legendes The hidden side of secrets Le Monde 26 April 2015 Le Bureau des Legendes Le Nouvel Observateur 27 April 2015 Hale Mike 8 June 2016 Occupied and The Bureau Two Gripping European Thrillers The New York Times Retrieved 8 June 2016 Robbins Caryn Award winning French Series The Bureau to Debut Exclusively on iTunes Broadwayworld com Retrieved 8 June 2016 Prix de la presse internationale 2015 Series Mania Retrieved 24 September 2015 Rochant s The Bureau Wins Best TV Series From French Cinema Critics 3 February 2016 Retrieved 3 February 2016 a b Association Critiques Series 2016 Awards Winners Archived from the original on 16 June 2016 a b c Le Bureau des Legendes IMDb IMDb Les dix meilleures series de 2018 selon Telerama 19 December 2018 Tv France International Export Awards Announce 2020 Winners Senal News Le groupe Canal Grand Prix des Medias 2020 External links editLe Bureau des Legendes at IMDb The Bureau at Rotten Tomatoes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Bureau TV series amp oldid 1178590134, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
