Alexandre Mérital, the leader of a political party, finds himself under attack from Frépeau, one of his opponents. The latter has indeed discovered that Mérital committed a theft in his youth. But Mérital will not be intimidated by his adversary's move. In his turn, he discovers that Frépeau was once involved in a financial scandal, which forces the plaintiff to discontinue the prosecution.
Acting
Vanel's controlled menace versus Alerme's crumbling bluster.
Writing
Tight escalation where every revelation cancels the last.
Director
Pierre-Jean Ducis
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released as the Popular Front government took power in France, the film's cynical view of political maneuvering hit differently than intended—audiences may have read their own anxieties onto Mérital's ambiguous party affiliation.
Madeleine Robinson's film debut; she would become one of French cinema's most enduring character actresses, outliving this production by seven decades.
FR
