Now available at select theaters The Goldman Case gives a keen look at the court system in Paris France. The re-trial depicted takes you on a rollercoaster ride with so many dips and dives that it purposely boggles the mind. Based on a true crime, my take is that the story was bought to the screen for its absurdly amusing storyline and quizzical finale. While the production is nicely depicted, the speed at which the subtitles roll by does make the film a bit daunting.
The year is 1975 Paris and the French people are dealing with terrorist attacks and protests. On this day we find flamboyant citizen Pierre Goldman having his day in court for the murder of two citizens during the robbery of a local pharmacy. Now you may ask what makes the trial of Goldman, who is a left-wing revolutionary, a more important event than France’s other woes. Politics. Taking the trial into his own hands by defending himself, the outcome punctuates his ideals and raises the value of his existence in the eyes of his followers.
Writer and Director Cedric Kahn does a very good job to depicting the unruly trial that makes the film dramatically amusing. Laying all the cards on the table the prosecutors bring witnesses to the robbery and Goldman’s character creating a good show. The people in the courtroom contribute to the excitement with outbursts of support and anger for those that would even insinuate that Goldman would be a party to murder. His film gets light and dark throughout the trial making it intriguing and engaging.
The Goldman Case is presented in the French language with English subtitles. The film has not been rated by the MPAA but contains language. I think I would have enjoyed the film more if the subtitles weren’t displayed so quickly. I am not aware if there is a version that is dubbed in English, but I would have enjoyed it more in that format. For those that speak French however, The Goldman Case is definitely worth the watch.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Arieh Worthalter, Arthur Harari, Stéphan Guérin-Tillié
Directed and written by:
Genre: Drama, crime, history
MPAA Rating: Not rated
Running Time: 1 hr, 55 min.
Opening Date: Now playing
Distributed by: Menemsha Films
Released in: Select theaters
