Saint Omer (2022)
Directed by Alice Diop
Les Films du losange, PG-13
In French with subtitles
★★★★
In Monday's review of Anatomy of a Fall I noted ways in which the French legal system is unique. Among them is that judges have far more discretionary power than in the United States and can consider extenuating circumstances, even those rooted in non-French culture.
Saint Omer is a dramatization of one of the most famous trials in French history. Director Alice Diop attended the 2013 trial of Fabienne Kabou, a Senegalese immigrant who murdered her infant daughter. For the record, Saint Omer refers to the location where the crime took place, not any individual involved with it. The film takes several liberties with the actual trial, but not many.
We first meet Rama, who is probably Diop’s alter ego. Rama (Kayije Kagame) is Senegalese, and a high-powered literature professor and novelist. She is expecting a child with Adrian (Thomas De Pourquevy), a white, gentle bear of a man. Though Rama has a prestigious position, she and Adrian live in a crowded apartment with several of Rama’s relatives, including her drama queen mother. Rama lectures about trauma in literature, the ostensible reason for traveling from Paris to Saint Omer to witness the trial of Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanda).
Coly’s was a gut-wrenching trial. Laurence is a graduate student, Catholic, and a highly intelligent young woman who speaks impeccable French. Much of her drive has to do with her strong-willed and domineering mother Odile (Salimata Kamate). Laurence readily confesses that she traveled to Saint Omer, checked into a hotel, cuddled her 15-month-old daughter, calmly waited until dark, walked to the beach, and placed her baby on the sand knowing she would drown when the tide turned. In the United States this would be a cut-and-dried murder of the first degree; Laurence knew exactly what she was doing, and because she carefully planned it, was of sound mind–cultural differences would not matter.
Laurence has no idea why she fabricated parts of her life or would wish to kill a daughter she professed to love. The présidente du tribunal (presiding judge) is both gentle and flabbergasted. She (Valérie Dréville) tries valiantly to get Laurence to explain herself. She admits only to being upset that her boyfriend Luc Dumontet (Xavier Maly) made her to leave his apartment. When Dumontet takes the stand, we are stunned to see that he is perhaps three times as old as Laurence. He admits he wanted to end their relationship, but vehemently insists that is not responsible for Laurence’s horrible deed. Dumontet is a bit odd to say the least, but when Laurence is questioned about their relationship or being depressed, like the judge’s questions about her lies and motives she responds, “Je ne sais quoi” (I don’t know). Throughout the trial her affect is flat and emotionless. That is how she suggests that sorcery must be involved. Sorcery? Should the judge take such an antique cultural artifact seriously? Is she mentally ill?
During a break in the trial Rama has lunch with Odile, who ignores the crime and is obsessed with whether the news media will continue to stress the intelligence of her daughter. Rama is shaken and conflicted. Family parallels are obvious, but can she also understand or empathize with Laurence? Could any woman? This film will shake you to the core.
Saint Omer has won numerous awards at film festivals and a César for best film. Malanda also won numerous prizes for playing Laurence. Rightly so. She made herself such a blank slate that we ponder whether sorcery was in play. Malanda also said that she had nightmares for a year after playing the role. Although she was less heralded, Valerie Dréville was letter-perfect as the judge. Hers was a tightrope walk between compassion and utter disbelief.
Saint Omer is a veritable modern day Medea story. In legend, she was the lover then wife, of the Argonaut Jason and helped him carry off the golden fleece. Later she killed their children. (Go to Wikipedia for more on Medea.) What would you do with Laurence if you were a trial judge with discretionary power?
Rob Weir
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