Le procès Goldman
French courtroom drama about one of the most notorious trials in recent French history. In the dock was the far-left Pierre Goldman, son of Jewish resistance fighters; revolutionary and criminal.
A lawless desperado or a headstrong young man persecuted by a racist police state? In 1976, the second trial of Pierre Goldman divides France. The far-left activist is retried for four robberies, one of which resulted in two deaths. He denies any involvement in the latter case. But the question of guilt is soon overshadowed by more complex issues such as Jewish identity and racism. Witness statements appear to be based on prejudice and the role of the police is questionable to say the least.
By choosing to stage this trial, Cédric Kahn makes a powerful entry into the delicate genre of the courtroom drama. He also unearths a black box of distinctly French passions, upheavals and splits that extend far beyond the 1970s.
LE PROCÈS GOLDMAN was the opening film of the Quinzaine des Cinéastes in Cannes. The film received several nominations and awards, including the César for Best Actor for Arieh Worthalter.