This French adaptation of a 1962 novel begins with a murder, but is more psychological drama than thriller. The killer is a quiet small-town pharmacist who runs a apothecary with his wife. Despite his leaving evidence at the scene of the crime, the police arrest a young Algerian who was sleeping with the deceased. (Algeria gained independence from France in 1962, concluding a violent struggle.) Worries about being caught give way to worries that the druggist himself may wind up on the jury.
Beyond the well-shot courtroom drama, the plot reveals how prejudice can overcome judgment, and convenience can overcome conscience. Surprisingly, the killer is not the one who lacks a conscience.
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viewed at Prince (Philadelphia Film Festival) and reviewed 4/1/09
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