In the aftermath of a young woman’s bloody murder in Paris—her identity shrouded in mystery—detective Jules Maigret begins to unravel the strange details surrounding her life and death. In this elegant adaptation of Georges Simenon’s Maigret et la Jeune Morte, Gérard Depardieu inhabits the broad, world-weary frame of the eponymous detective, pairing his natural charisma with a melancholic edge that perfectly captures Maigret’s character. With a brooding, compassionate air, Maigret follows a trail of clues and forgotten details of the unassuming, anonymous victim, searching for her identity and humanity with a compassionate grace, in sharp contrast to the seeming indifference of those around him. Writer/director Patrice Leconte situates the tale in a 1953 Paris still recovering from WWII, contrasting a dark, sombre atmosphere of everyday people in the city with the sparkling opulence of glamorous socialites and aristocrats, crafting a thoughtful—yet thrilling—spin on the classic detective story.
Supported by
Patrice Leconte
Gérard Depardieu, Jade Labeste, Mélanie Bernier, Aurore Clément, André Wilms, Hervé Pierre
France/Belgium
2022
In French with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Secret in Their Eyes
This month's Talking Pictures screening is a multi-layered, poignant thriller interweaving the personal lives of a prosecution investigator (Ricardo Darin) and a judge, with a manhunt spanning twenty-five years. Stay for cookies, coffee and a chat after!
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
Credits
Producer
Jean-Louis Livi
Screenwriter
Jérôme Tonnerre, Patrice Leconte
Cinematography
Yves Angelo
Editor
Joëlle Hache
Production Design
Loïc Chavanon
Original Music
Bruno Coulais