MAIGRET review by Marinell Haegelin
Commissioner Jules Maigret ( Gérard Depardieu ) of Paris ’ s mobile crime unit is called in to investigate a young female victim ( Clara Antoons ). Although fashionably dressed and found in the elegant ninth arrondissement , she carries no identity papers , and no one knows her . Maigret , swathed in a great dark coat and wide-brimmed hat , and his team steadfastly move from clue to clue determined to learn her identity . Dr . Paul ’ s ( Hervé Pierre ) autopsy sets up a timeline ; doggedly following a thread to unravel the gown ’ s secret , Maigret is rewarded with particularly fruitful results from the proprietor ( Moanna Ferré ) at a nearby salon ; she directs him to Betty ( Jade Labeste ) whose resemblance to the deceased is uncanny . Eventually Maigret will ask , and Betty indulges a reconstruction . Making Jeanine ’ s ( Mélanie Bernier ) acquaintance , and with admirable perseverance and a taxi driver ’ s ( Alain Gueneau ) lead , a link is established to Mme Clermont- Valois ( Aurore Clément ) and son Laurent ( Pierre Moure ). They knew the twenty-year-old fatality . Mme Maigret ( Anne Loiret ) soothes her quietly grim , focused husband as he probes and prods into the why / what , delving deeper into unraveling the enigmatical quandary .
Director Patrice Leconte ’ s interpretation of the prolific Belgian author Georges Simenon ’ s renowned sleuth Jules Maigret is very atmospheric and enticing . It was Simenon ’ s 1930 Pietr-le-Letton ( Pietr the Latvian ) where Maigret emerged fully . Leconte ’ s adaptation , co-written with Jérôme Tonnerre , is based on the 1954 novel Maigret et la jeune morte . Depardieu , with his bulk , slow movements , and nuanced head and facial movements is the embodiment of Maigret , the detective whose power to snag suspects lies in his mind , rather than movements , because of his ability to psychologically outthink and outmaneuver even the cleverest criminal . Cloaked in Bruno Coulais ’ s music , cinematographer Yves Angelo , editor Joëlle Hache , and Loïc Chavanon ’ s production design create the evocative vividness of Paris during that era . For a refreshing noirish encounter , treat yourself to the experience of solving a case with the great Maigret . 88 minutes
© PLAION PICTURES
MAIGRET ****
FRANCE | BELGIUM 2022 OPENED MARCH 30 , 2023
DIRECTED BY : PATRICE LECONTE
WRITING CREDITS : GEORGES SIMENON , PATRICE LECONTE ,
JÉRÔME TONNERRE
PRINCIPAL ACTORS : GÉRARD DEPARDIEU , JADE LABESTE , MÉLANIE BERNIER , AURORE
CLÉMENT , PIERRE MOURE
CURRENTS 67