Outside an apartment complex in the French port city of Le Havre, a female student is gruesomely murdered in the middle of the night. The complex's 38 inhabitants say they heard or saw nothing. Until one of them, the introverted pilot Pierre (Yvan Attal), decides to break the silence. He admits to the police that he was awakened by a desperate, primeval cry. A cry that cannot have escaped his neighbours’ attention.
But why did they, just like Pierre, not come to the victim’s aid? Why do they collectively deny having witnessed the murder? Due to cowardice, shame or fear? These questions haunt the traumatised Pierre, and director Belvaux (The Trilogy) states them openly. His book adaptation (the opening film at IFFR 2012) is an unbiased investigation. Why do people tend to want to hush up certain events? 38 Witnesses is a thorough, psychological study and a claustrophobic murder mystery in one. The understated cinematography and subdued soundtrack subtly increase the tension.
- Director
- Lucas Belvaux
- Premiere
- World premiere
- Countries of production
- France, Belgium
- Year
- 2012
- Festival Edition
- IFFR 2012
- Length
- 104'
- Medium
- 35mm
- International title
- 38 Witnesses
- Language
- French
- Producers
- Patrick Sobelman, Patrick Quinet, Yvan Attal
- Production Companies
- AGAT Films & Cie, Artémis Productions, Films sous influence
- Sales
- Playtime
- Screenplay
- Lucas Belvaux, based on a novel by Didier Decoin
- Cinematography
- Pierric Gantelmi d’Ille
- Editor
- Ludo Troch
- Production Design
- Frédérique Belvaux
- Sound Design
- Henri Morelle
- Music
- Arne Van Dongen
- Cast
- Natacha Régnier, Patrick Descamps, Nicole Garcia, Sophie Quinton, Yvan Attal
- Local Distributor
- Cinéart Netherlands