On New Year’s Eve, Inspector Antoine Gallien, assisted by Belmont are questioning local attorney Martinaud in regard to the rape and murder of two young girls whose bodies have been found on the beach. Martinaud knew one of the children. At first the questioning progresses politely, and then less so, as the interrogation team chips away at the suspect’s alibi and Martinaud becomes the prime suspect. Claude Miller’s film appears as a discreet homage to H.G. Clouzot’s ‘Quai des Orfevres’. Both films share the New Year’s Eve setting and the same names for the police inspectors. Awards: Prix Melies 1981 ; Grand Prix du Cinema Francais 1981 ; Montreal Film Festival - Best Scenario.
Credits: Producers, Alexandre Mnouchkine, Georges Dancigers ; director, Claude Miller ; writers, Michel Audiard, Jean Herman, Claude Miller ; photography, Bruno Nuytten ; music, Georges Delerue.
Cast: Lino Ventura, Michel Serrault, Romy Schneider, Guy Marchand, Elsa Lunghini, Jean-Claude Penchenat, Pierre Maguelon, Mathieu Schiffman, Michel Such, Patrick Depeyrat.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
X000008
Languages
English
French
Subject category
Foreign language films
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)