The brilliant Sandra Huller stars as Sandra Voyter, an author who is arrested and put on trial after her husband falls from a top floor window of their house and dies. She is accused of murder, and her defence is that he killed himself.
Justine Triet’s film, co-written with Arthur Harari won the Palme D’or at Cannes this year. I do not think that necessarily is a mark of quality, the dreadful Dancer in the Dark won in 2000 for example, but the jury usually make a good choice, and have done so here. This is a stunning courtroom thriller. Triet and Harari provide a number of memorable, tension packed scenes, during the trial as it unfolds.
There is a minimum of lawyer grandstanding and no sudden revelations. Instead, the gradual unveiling of evidence will have you changing your mind about Sandra’s guilt a number of times. As well as Huller, Swann Arlaud is great as her lawyer. You can see the doubt in his face even when he tells Sandra that he believes her innocence.
A film that takes a hold on you and slowly ratchets up the tension.
Rating: 9 out of 10