L'hermine (2015)

Michel Racine is a feared president of Assize Court, as strict with himself as with others. Everything changes when he meets again Ditte when she's selected as a juror in a criminal trial over which he presides.

Director:

Christian Vincent

Writer:

Christian Vincent (scenario)

Stars:

Fabrice Luchini, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Eva Lallier

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fabrice Luchini	...	Michel Racine
Sidse Babett Knudsen	...	Ditte Lorensen-Coteret
Eva Lallier	...	Ann Lorensen-Coteret
Corinne Masiero	...	Marie-Jeanne Metzer
Sophie-Marie Larrouy	...	Coralie Marciano
Fouzia Guezoum	...	Nacera Boubziz
Simon Ferrante	...	Simon Orvieto
Abdellah Moundy	...	Yacine Balaoui (as Moundy)
Serge Flamenbaum	...	Serge Debruyne
Emmanuel Rausenberger	...	Rémi Kubiak
Gabriel Lebret	...	Franck Leuwen
Salma Lahmer	...	La cousine
Victor Pontecorvo	...	Martial Beclin - l'accusé
Miss Ming	...	Jessica Marton (as Candy Ming)
Michaël Abiteboul	...	Maître Jourd'hui - l'avocat de la défense

Storyline

If you have to go to court, you pray not to have to appear before Michel Racine, an awfully ruthless judge. Unfortunately for him, this is what happens to Martial Beclin, a man accused of kicking to death his baby daughter. And you can easily guess what his feelings are on the first day of his trial. But neither Martial nor Michel knows it yet: this time, things may turn out differently. Why? Because judge Racine stops being himself the moment he recognizes among the jurors Ditte, a woman doctor he has been secretly in love for a couple of years...

---

Plot Keywords:

trial | judge | influenza | criminal trial | doctor | 

---

Taglines:

Follow his heart or rule with his head. What is a judge supposed to do?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

18 November 2015 (France)

Also Known As:

Hermelinen

Filming Locations:

Studios de Bry-sur-Marne, 2 avenue de l'Europe, Val-de-Marne, France.

Box Office

Budget:

€7,320,309 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Albertine Productions, Gaumont, Cinéfrance 1888

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

Dreamers
Written, composed and performed by Claire Denamur

User Reviews

French Courtroom based romance

Fabrice Luchini plays Michel Racine a criminal judge who is known for being less than lenient. He is separated and has got to that curmudgeonly time of life. This day he starts a new trial of a man accused of infanticide of his own daughter – but then he spots one of the jurors and his heart quickens a beat.

This is a doctor who had treated him some two years ago – being is Ditte Lorensen-Coteret played by the marvellous Sisde Babbett- Knudsen ('Borgen' and 'The Duke of Burgundy') and he has been carrying a torch for her ever since. What follows are two trials – the one of the defendant and the other for himself but not as judge.

Now this is well made, acted, directed and filmed and it is a gripping story in places but it also takes its foot off the gas a few times too which means you can start mind meandering if you are not careful. That said it still kept me interested until the end so one I can recommend, but only once really so a rental option would be better advised.