The Goats: what is this comedy by Fred Cavayé?
Two years after the staging of the historical drama Goodbye Mr. Hoffmanndirector Fred Cavayé returns to comedy The goats! worn by Dany Boon and Jérôme Commandeur.
The film, in theaters from Wednesday 21 February, is set in the 17th century.
At that time, an unusual phenomenon occurred: animals could be judged for committing a crime. It is in this context that the story of Maître Pompignac (Dany Boon) emerges, a lawyer who, despite his reputation as the laughing stock of lawyers, he firmly believes he has found the deal of his life. He sets out to defend the young and innocent Josette, falsely accused of the murder of a marshal. This affair, he is convinced, could finally see his true value recognized by his peers. But what he hadn’t anticipated was the unusual nature of her client: Josette is truly a goat.
The task promises to be even more difficult as Maître Pompignac will have to face Maître Valvert (Jérôme Commandeur), a formidable opponent renowned for his intransigence and legal skill.
A true story behind the film
As strange as it may seem, The goats! it is freely inspireda true story that took place in the 14th century, in the town of Falaise, Normandy. It wasn’t a goat but a sow, accused of killing an infant and tried in court. This evidence did not constitute an anomaly, but rather an accepted practice at the time, because animals were recognized as “living beings created by God” and therefore had, according to beliefs, the ability to distinguish good and evil.
The trial of the Falaise sow took place with all the solemnity and seriousness of a court. The animal was officially accused of murder, imprisoned, then taken to court to be tried. Witnesses were called, evidence was presented and a lawyer was even appointed to defend the sow, following the legal procedures of the time. Ultimately, after deliberation, the sow was found guilty of the child’s murder and sentenced to public execution.
During the trial of the sow at Falaise in 1386, the animal was dressed in a very particular way to emphasize the gravity of its crime. The sow, about three years old, was dressed in human clothing and dragged by a mare from the castle square to the gallows. This staging, destined to make an impression and to inflict the same abuse on her that he had meted out to the child he had killed, also included the mutilation of the animal by the executioner before its execution. The executioner cut off her muzzle, cut off one of her thighs, and, after dressing her in a mask with a human face, hung her by her hind legs until she died. The animal was then burned.
Source: Cine Serie
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