CASE 137

Stephanie Bertrand (the fabulous Lea Drucker) is an experienced inspector for the IGPN, the French police internal affairs unit. Set during the 2018 Yellow Vest protests in Paris, Stephanie investigates the serious injury of a young demonstrator, Guillaume Girard (Come Peronnet), who was struck in the head at close range by a police rubber bullet. In what initially seems like a needle-in-a-haystack task given the chaos of the riots, Stephanie meticulously begins to piece together the truth through interviews, mapping technology, eyewitness testimony, CCTV and phone videos. When she finally finds her smoking gun witness, she hits a wall of obstruction within her own organisation, is ostracised by her peers, and is considered a traitor by her combative former husband. With strong character development and superb acting, this film has a realistic feel, save for some of the links between Stephanie’s personal and professional life, which feel a bit too coincidental at times. The pacing may test the patience of those who prefer explosive thrillers rather than meticulous dramas. An intriguing view on the frustrations of policing the police.