Le juge et l'assassin

Director Bertrand Tavernier and actor Philippe Noiret collaborated in 9 films. The 1976 'Le juge et l'assassin' is the third film they made together and is a remarkable film in many ways. The story takes place in the last decade of the 19th century, in a France that is still living through the trauma of the Paris Commune and the defeat in the Franco-Prussian war, a country deeply divided by the Dreyfuss case, crushed by social inequalities that gave impetus to the socialist movement but also encouraged anarchist groups and terrorist attacks. Against this background, Bertrand Tavernier together with Pierre Bost and Jean Aurenche wrote the screenplay of a film describing the case of a serial killer, a kind of French Jack the Ripper, focusing on the characters of the criminal and of the judge who does everything to catch and condemn him.

Sergeant Joseph Bouvier is a veteran of the wars of France. He loves a young woman who rejects him, and in desperation he decides to kill her and commit suicide. Neither the assassination nor the suicide succeed, he is declared irresponsible, but after a few years the doctors consider him cured and release him. Adopting a vagabond life, prey to chronic physical and mental suffering and a morbid mysticism, he crosses France from North to South, killing and raping 12 victims on his way, most of them children or teenagers. Judge Emile Rousseau leads a typical bourgeois life in a provincial town, with a possessive mother and a mistress of lower social status. The Bouvier case gives him an opportunity to stand out, but to do so he must secure a conviction, prevent the serial killer from being declared insane, and turn him into a symbol of all that is rotten in France. Sort of a serial killer Dreyfuss. The confrontation between the two is not just a meeting between an accuser and a criminal. Rousseau has on his side not only the intelligence and cunning that will enable him to win Bouvier's confidence, but also a whole legal and political machine at the service of a social class that fears the changes that will sooner or later take place . In the end it is a confrontation between two faces of France, both corrupt and destructive.

Philippe Noiret is, of course, formidable as always. The role of the cunning, ariviste and morally corrupt judge suits him perfectly. The most remarkable acting performance, however, belongs to Michel Galabru, an actor who until then had only made himself known on screens in comic roles (among them a gendarme from Louis de Funès' troupe in Saint-Tropez). The role of Bouvier allows Galabru to create a complex character, in which madness mixes with passion, mystical fervor with intellectual poetry. The cast also features Isabelle Huppert, who at 23, in the secondary role of Rose, the judge's mistress, was beautiful and already master of that mysterious expression that would mark her great roles to come. Bertrand Tavernier has always known how to collaborate with classy professionals. Pierre-William Glenn's cinematography is impressive, especially in the nature scenes. Philippe Sarde's music plays a very important role. There are several sung scenes in the film - by an officer declaiming a patriotic song about lost Alsace and Lorraine, by a troubadour singing a ballad to the murderer-turned-folk-hero, by working women demonstrating for their rights in the final scene. These, together with the very carefully designed sets and costumes, make 'Le juge et l'assassin' an extremely expressive film in rendering the atmosphere of the era. The biggest problem with the script is the overly obvious rhetoric, which doesn't want to leave any doubt about the political views of the screenwriters and of the director. I didn't think that was necessary. The story itself is quite strong and speaks for itself, and the level of acting plus the Noiret - Galabru duel are expressive enough without being explicit. Bertrand Tavernier could have let the cinema art that he mastered so well tell the whole story. It would have been sufficient.

I can't make a real judgment on this film, although the other reviews are rave ones. I just want to add that the story is based on an actual case of the 1890s in France. Joseph Vacher was the real life murderer who is the basis for Michel Galabrue's Joseph Bouvier. Like Vacher he was a former soldier, and he went about the countryside slaughtering young boy shepherds and young girl servants. His destruction of these victims (in terms of mutilations) rivaled his contemporary Jack the Ripper (Vacher was known as Vacher the Ripper). Although he was quite insane the public demanded a death penalty - he was guillotined in 1898. His crimes briefly took public attention off the matter of Captain Alfred Dreyfus.

The Philippe Noiret character is partly based on the noted criminologist Professor Alexander Lacassagne, who (despite considerable evidence of insanity) determined that Vacher was sane, and deserved the death penalty.

Michel Galabru got the highest french award for his role in this movie, the "Cesar du meilleur acteur". Galabru became then one of the greatest actor in France.

Either in comedy or in tragedy (see "Le gendarme" and "L'été meurtrier".

A very cursory appraisal of the film would term it as a tale of a true murderer and rapist who killed, raped and sodomized over a dozen shepherd women in rural France before being captured and guillotined. The film is much more than that. The film is more about the respected, educated judges of France who sit in judgement of the evils of less privileged evil-doers, while they are more evil in their actions and scoff at the writings of Emile Zola, that strikes a chord with the average French citizens. One judge is called "Judas" by prisoner who has been tricked, another commits suicide as he reflects on his own past actions that mirror the actions of another. Religion plays a major but discrete role--free lunches for the poor and illiterate are free only if petitions that serve the rich are signed. A judge helps a sibling of an Asian he has condemned to death by ensuring the sibling becomes a Christian and serves him for the rest of his life. Anti-Jewish posters are pasted on outer church walls. Social comments include unwritten restrictions of a Frenchwoman being allowed to marry an Asian. A judge's mother of higher classes, providing cherries in brandy to a lower-class worker but not readily approving her to be the daughter-in-law marked by a silent disapproval when she is brought home. A judge avoids visiting his girlfriend's daughter in hospital but brings flowers for the sick person. The film is less about the "assassin" and more about real life judges and other rich individuals who "judge" the less privileged.

The film is top-notch French cinema, with notable direction and casting, a superb screenplay, good cinematography and fine performances. Tavernier and Noiret made a great team, ever since Tavernier's debut film "The Clockworker of St Paul." It is a pity that this work of Tavernier is rarely discussed and appreciated.

Intriguing courtroom drama based on true events , dealing with a nasty murderer called Bouvier : Michel Galabru , based on an actual series killer , proceeding a criminal spree throughout France and a prejudiced judge : Philippe Noiret who has his values challenged when he has to decide if the supect person is insane or no . And eventually, considering if it benefits or harms his career .

A suspenseful, thrilling and surprising movie with historical background during Dreyfuss affaire , and the publication of Emilio Zola's J'accuse....!. A good as well as provoking flick, including drama , thrills , violence and competent performances .The peculiar relationship that develops between the murderer and the judge in the movie's focus . It results to be a nice movie shot in French with English subtitles . Duo of protagonists , Michel Galabru and Philippe Noiriet, are frankly magnificent. They are well accompanied by a fine support cast , such as : Isabelle Huppert as judge's sweetheart , Renee Faure as possessive mother , Yves Robert and Jean Claude Brialy as Procureur.

It displays evocative and shining cinematograhy by Perre William Glenn , showing splendidly the French outdoors . As well as sensitive and moving musical score by Philippe Sarde . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Bertrand Tavernier . Bernard is deemed to be one of the best French fimmakers , writing and directing thought-provoking and interesting pictures , outstanding the following ones : "Captain Conan", "Revenge of the Musketeers" , "L627" , "Daddy Nostalgia", "Life and nothing but" , "Beatrice" , "Round Midnight", "A Sunday in the Country" , "Coup de Torchon" , Spoiled Children", "Death Watch" , "The Clockmaker" , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average.