4.4 out of 5: “One of the best movies of the year” worth seeing in the cinema

Opening the Quinzaine des Cinéastes at the recent Cannes festival, Le Procès Goldman commemorates Pierre Goldman, the half-brother of singer Jean-Jacques Goldman and a left-wing activist accused of robbery and murder in 1970.

Particularly well received by the press, this experimental film has an average rating of 4.44/5 from 32 reviews (on AlloCiné, as of September 27, 2023). It’s even the second highest-rated feature film of 2023, behind Steven Spielberg’s undefeated The Fabelmans (4.86/5).

Also note that Cédric Kahn’s films are often praised by press critics: we especially think of the erotic drama L’Ennui (1998) and the crime biopic Roberto Succo (2001), but especially the thriller Feux Rouges (2004) and its very good average of 4.4/5.

What are you doing?

In November 1975, a second trial began for Pierre Goldman, a far-left activist who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance for four armed robberies, one of which resulted in the deaths of two pharmacists. He pleads his innocence in the latter case and within weeks becomes an icon of the intellectual left.

He is defended by a young lawyer, Georges Kiezhman. But very soon their relationship gets strained. Goldman, elusive and provocative, risks the death penalty and makes the outcome of the trial uncertain.

What does the press think?

According to CinemaTeaser:

“A procedural, both gritty and romantic, where past and present interact to match. Remarkable.” (Aurelien Allin) 5/5

According to Defector:

With The Goldman Trial, Cedric Kahn expands the successful uppercut film in its three dimensions: legal, theatrical, cinematic. (Serge Kagansky) 5/5

According to aVoir-aLire.com:

“More than a legal film, The Goldman Trial is not only a brilliant lesson in directing, but also a profound historical testimony to ponder.” (Laurent Cambon) 5/5

According to the latest news from Alsace:

“Historical fiction of impeccable accuracy, absolute mastery.” (Natalie Chifflett) 5/5

According to Le Figaro:

“Sober and raw film.” (Eric Neuhoff) 4/5

When Jean-Jacques Goldman’s brother was at the center of one of the greatest trials of the 1970s: being immersed in a closed session movie theater.

According to Franceinfo Culture:

“The Goldman Trial, performed by an established cast, is a fascinating piece of theater that managed to recreate a turbulent period with a nervous, feverishly closed door.” (Mohamed Berkan) 4/5

According to La Croix:

“With fantastic accuracy, the debate has been reconstructed from press articles of the time, Cedric Kahn and his co-author Natalie Herzberg not having access to court records. A powerful work on the power of words, the film speaks volumes. About the difficulty of enforcing justice”. (Stephan Dreyfus) 4/5

According to Les Inrockuptibles:

“This is the great strength of the experimental film, which Kahn exploits perfectly: exploring the depths and contradictions of individuals to better dialogue with the wretched health of institutions, whether in 1976 or today.” (Ludovic Beau) 4/5

According to Paris Match:

“The film feels very modern, bringing the procedures and the presumption of innocence back to the heart of the countryside.” (Yanik Veli) 4/5

According to Télérama:

“Not standing by, restoring everyone’s dignity, that’s what gives this film its absolute power, which neither defeats nor defends the revolutionary thug, a character as if struck by the curse of being born too early or too late. Wrong era.” (Jacques Morris) 4/5