The Thread (M)

One of France’s most beloved and awarded actors, the remarkable Daniel Auteuil is also an accomplished writer and director in his own right, and the engrossing new legal thriller The Thread finds him once again in top form

Auteuil stars as Jean Monier, a well-past his prime defence lawyer who – ever since discovering he was responsible for a killer being exonerated – now prefers to work as a prosecutor. But one evening Jean agrees to help his over-committed wife and fellow counsel Annie by meeting with Nicolas Milik, a shell-shocked father of five who has just been arrested for the murder of his troubled wife. Milik’s predicament inexplicably touches Jean; the more he pieces together the events of the night in question, the more he becomes convinced of Milik’s innocence. Soon Jean rediscovers his passion for his vocation, and becomes obsessed with exposing the killer.

Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Grégory Gadebois, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Alice Belaïdi, Gaëtan Roussel, Isabelle Candelier

Director: Daniel Auteuil

★★★★ "Gripping. A tightly plotted courtroom drama that keeps the mysteries percolating right up to the finish when the unravelling of one last secret throws a new light on everything." THE AGE

★★★★ "A thriller that, we assure you, will keep you in suspense until the end" ELLE

★★★★ "Compelling viewing. It’s impossible for audiences not to be transfixed by this gripping, edge-of-your-seat drama. Auteuil delivers a powerhouse performance." CITYHUB

★★★★ "Auteuil and Gadebois are masterful. The astonishing ending will leave you stunned" FRANCEINFOCULTURE

★★★★ "Brilliant. An absorbing court drama that holds the audience’s attention to the announcement of the verdict and beyond." GLAMADELAIDE

★★★★ "Tense and effective. Psychologically probing, suspenseful, and anchored by Auteuil’s nuanced lead performance" LE FIGARO

★★★★ "A breathless, devious thriller." CLOSER

★★★★ "Tense and nuanced, an old-fashioned, character-driven legal thriller reflecting on the ambiguities of justice" LE PARISIEN