DIRECTOR
Daniel Auteuil
Amoureux de ma femme, Marius, Fanny, The Well-Digger’s Daughter

STARS
Daniel Auteuil, Grégory Gadebois, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Gaëtan Roussel

One man’s freedom hangs by a thread in this mildly engrossing French courtroom drama based on true events and adapted from the memoirs of lawyer turned best-selling author Jean-Yves Moyart.

In January 2020, the first of a three day trial into the murder of a woman and mother of five children tragically found dead three years earlier in February 2017 commences. The accused is her husband, Nicholas Milik (Grégory Gadebois), who has spent the past three years in custody and maintains his innocence. The odds are stacked against him, however, and there are some damning facts such as the fight he and his wife had on the eve of her murder, that work contrary to his claims. Nevertheless, when a defence lawyer turned prosecutor, Jean Monier (played by co-writer and director Daniel Auteuil) learns of the Milik case and interviews Nicholas, he becomes convinced of his innocence and agrees to defend him.

There are two pivotal plot points in The Thread that draw interest to it and provide the film with intriguing avenues to explore. One is of course the abovementioned case, where us viewers experience the criminal hearing as the jurors do and are left to determine whether Milik is guilty or innocent. The other is Jean’s controversial history. Until now, he hasn’t defended a client for 15 years. There is good reason for that: The accused killer he defended was set free… and soon went on to kill again. Could this be history repeating or is Jean right this time?

This pairing of plots possesses plenty of promise, yet they are disappointingly rarely seamed together. The screenplay spends the majority of its time revolving around the various details and people involved in the case and under-develops the psychological hindrances that would have come Jean’s way. The result of this is a less overall compelling and engrossing film before us than we could have had, but even functioning as a courtroom drama / murder mystery, The Thread displays dogged consistency in remaining solid without being stirring or sensationalised in any way. Though driven by its story far more than it is by its production aspects, I did find the production of this film to be quite average. Namely, the pacing is too static throughout and its classical music score comprising speedy piano playing never suited what was on screen.

Despite being less than memorable in certain areas, the ending is guaranteed to never be forgotten!

The Thread is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from August 28th, 2025.

Moviedoc thanks Palace Films for the invitation to the screening of this film. 

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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