Nadine Trintignant's second feature film as director "Défense de savoir" ("Defense of Knowledge") is an intriguing and puzzling piece
where nothing seems what appears and no one is safe from harm. It feels like a less complicated version of Costa Gavras "Z" and even cast members
Jean-Louis Trintignant and Charles Denner are present too. It's also a less combative and explosive film as it's simply a fictional story
rather than a based on a real event kind of film. Enjoyable but far from memorable, except for the few interesting twists that Nadine and her
co-writer Alain Corbeau offer to audiences.
A young woman (Bernadette Lafont) is accused of murdering a man, whom we later discover he's a criminal involved in a robbery gone
wrong. Her appointed lawyer (Jean-Louis) tries to prove her innocence and goes after the real culprits, the usual routine of dedicated lawyers.
What he uncovers is a thick plot revolving crooked politicians and their lousy political campaigns that revolves on shaming and attacking
oppositors on the streets. The politician in question is the wealthy Paul Cristiani (Michel Bouquet), who has a complicated relationshhip with
daughter (Juliet Berto), an underground stage actress, and both parts still mourn the accidental death of son/brother in mysterious circumstances.
I won't go much further with the description, in fact I simplified it a lot as the countledss flashbacks can throw you off guard and you
won't get neither the typical fare from wrongfully accused plot, neither a brainy film destine to shake your world in distruting official versions
of a crime. While the cast acting is so-and-so (only the Trintignants are honorable, with Marie playing a hostage from the bad guy and she develops a unusual
bond with the lawyer; and Brazilian actress Norman Bengell has a good key role), the film creates so many bizarre antics with some characters that nothing is believable neither cinematically interesting -
the female characters yell, shout and behave in such weird manner, not responding when needed, or challenging the lawyer - the "innocent" girl
isn't helpful in any way and it's so annoying that any thinking person in the audience if being in the lawyer's shoes would reject the case
and leave her in jail.
In "Défense de savoir" there are more qualities than problems, it's a quite manageable thrilling work that isn't a total mess. The enthusiasts
for complex stories will find some thrills and will be challenged by it - but not that much. Somehow it works just fine. 6/10.
