The UK'sTartan Films has acquired Gaumont's French hit 36 Quai Des Orfevres, starring Daniel Auteuil and GerardDepardieu.

The deal was brokered byJane Giles of Tartan Films and Philippe de Chaisemartin of Gaumont. The policethriller, which amassed more than 2.1 million admissions in France, has sold toan array of markets, including Japan (Asmik), Germany (Tobis) and Spain(Columbia).

"36 Quai Des Orfevres marks the fantastic return of the policier, a genre which has almostdisappeared since the halcyon days of The French Connection and the films of Jean-Pierre Melville," said Laura DeCasto, Tartan's managing director.

The acquisition follows hardon the heels of Tartan's pick up of Korean box-office hit Blood Rain.