Review of Comedy of Power (2006) by Artur C — 17 Jan 2010

The jury system evolved in a society in which the members would already know something of the character of the accused and of the crime. Now it is a passive audience waiting to be persuaded by an adversarial peace of theatre. English-speaking countries have persuaded themselves that this mockery is superior to the legal processes of foreigners.

For me, this contrast provides added pleasure to this neatly-crafted movie. The excellent Isabelle Huppert plays a judge in a case involving high level corruption. (You know the sort of thing - in England the prime minister would stop the trial as being against the national interest.) Judge Jeanne Charmant-Killman, nicknamed 'the Piranha', pursues the wrong-doers into ever more elevated hidey holes, in the face of intimidation and death threats. Watch as this places unendurable strain on her long-suffering husband too. A plot based on a true story gives you an opportunity to enjoy Huppert's skill here. Very good movie making indeed by Claude Chabral.