The Thread: Impossible Not To Be Transfixed By Criminal Lawyer’s Memoirs

Legal drama thrillers are always interesting to watch, especially when they’re based on  true stories. The Thread is compelling viewing from the memoirs of criminal lawyer turned best-selling-author Jean-Yves Moyart, which reflects his own legal experiences.

This latest cinematic offering from France is co-written, directed and stars Daniel Auteuil as troubled lawyer Jean Monier, who  represents Nicolas Milik, a man who has been charged with the murder of his wife.

Monier becomes increasingly involved in this case as he truly believes in the man’s innocence. He makes it his personal mission for the jury to find him not guilty of the crime.

Audiences will be divided – Nicolas was overheard with a friend allegedly planning his wife’s murder. Was it just a conversation not meant to be taken seriously? His wife was a drunk and a bad mother to his children. He planned to divorce her, but the question that arose was, could he honestly kill his wife whom he claimed to have loved so dearly?

It’s impossible for audiences not to be transfixed by this gripping drama. Daniel Auteuil who has appeared in various period dramas and romantic comedies plays the role of Monier delivering a powerhouse performance. Gregory Gadebois plays the role of Nicolas, convincingly portraying the innocence of a wrongly convicted man who wants to be reunited with his children.

Momentum builds as the trial progresses. Flashbacks are cleverly interwoven in the court scenes which depict how the murder was allegedly executed, further distancing audiences from the belief of this man’s innocence.

Just when the armchair detectives in the audiences think they have nailed the outcome there’s a staggering twist in the final act which should leave audiences speechless. And in the final moments of the film the astonishment accelerates– a bewildering scene which audiences would never have anticipated.

For optimum enjoyment it’s best not to know how much of this movie was dramatised for cinematic effect. Whether this narrative closely follows the true story is irrelevant, as it’s an absorbing edge-of-your-seat stand alone drama that should leave audiences overwhelmed by the astute performances and Daniel Auteuil’s direction, which collectively brings this legal thriller to life.

The Thread

****

In Cinemas August 28