The Goldman Case

Like Anatomy of a Fall and Saint Omer, The Goldman Case is another courtroom drama that says as much about the French judicial system (and society as a whole) as it does about the specifics of the crime for which its protagonist is standing trial. In 1976, Jewish radical Pierre Goldman was facing the death penalty, accused of committing a double murder during an armed robbery of a Paris pharmacy in December, 1969. Goldman admitted to a string of similar robberies, but denied killing anyone, and instead, put the police and the law courts on trial for institutional racism. Intelligent, charismatic and uncompromising, Goldman became a cause celebre — but was he innocent?

Based on court transcripts, Cedric Kahn’s film almost never leaves the trial, putting the audience in the place of the jury, and, sometimes, Goldman’s long-suffering attorney. Nominated for 8 Cesar (French Oscar) awards, the film won Best Actor (Arieh Worthalter).

Unlike most courtroom dramas there are no easy answers here, no moments where music swells and victory reigns. Goldman is too complicated for that. Instead, Kahn rightfully leaves his audience mired in the questions his story raises about Jewish trauma and corrupt institutions, both today and yesterday.

B+ Esther Zuckerman, Indiewire

A taut and rigorous piece of storytelling in which seething tempers and unruly politics are forever on the verge of leaping out of the movie’s tightly framed, square-shaped images, the movie may concern itself with distant events, but its subjects — antisemitism, police corruption, political awakening — are very much of the present.

Justin Chang, LA Times

Franco-Belgian actor Worthalter, who’s perhaps best known for his role in Lukas Dhont’s Girl, is riveting every time his character takes the stand. He convinces us of Goldman’s innocence, not to mention his commitment to political causes, far before the trial is over, and we’re only hoping that the jury will wind up agreeing with us.

Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter