MovieChat Forums > Trois couleurs: Rouge (1994) Discussion > The French Judicial System

The French Judicial System

posted 9 years ago by spookyrat1
6 replies | jump to latest

I realise the movie is strongly allegorical in nature, but I find it hard to imagine the wheels of the French judiciary spinning quite so quickly and efficiently. Kern writes a series of letters to his neighbours, denounces himself, and the community files a class action in the law courts with lawyers presumably briefed etc.the very next day (according to the film). Breathtakingly quick!🐭

[–] murph24 9 years ago

Kern writes a series of letters to his neighbours, denounces himself, and the community files a class action in the law courts with lawyers presumably briefed etc.the very next day (according to the film).

What gave you the impression it was the very next day? There's nothing in the dialogue that indicates this. In fact, after Kern writes the letters admitting his guilt, a number of scenes follow that indicate a passage of time. Valentine's immense portrait (for the chewing gum company) is shown attracting attention - not only from Auguste driving by, but also from prank-playing kids who stick chewing gum in the lock of her door. As a result she's unable to get into her apartment to answer Michel's call, leading to a tense conversation with him when they finally speak. And then Auguste passes his exams and becomes a judge; to congratulate him, Karin presents him with a high-quality pen. It's only after all of this has taken place that we see Kern in court.

Also, the French judicial system isn't a factor here; the film take place in Geneva, Switzerland.

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

There's nothing in the dialogue that indicates this.

In fact just the opposite applies. There's footage of the plaintiffs at court. Valentine reads the follow-up news about the retired judge who spied on his neighbours, and rushes to Kern to tell him that she did not give him in. He tells her about writing the letters "just the other night" after she had left.

Also, the French judicial system isn't a factor here; the film take place in Geneva, Switzerland.

Sure. I probably should have said the French speaking Romandian judicial system.🐭

[–] murph24 9 years ago

There's footage of the plaintiffs at court. Valentine reads the follow-up news about the retired judge who spied on his neighbours, and rushes to Kern to tell him that she did not give him in. He tells her about writing the letters "just the other night" after she had left.

Yes, there's footage of the plaintiffs at court, and there's a scene in which Valentine reads about Kern's court case for eavesdropping, followed by another scene where she goes to his house to tell him she didn't tell anyone about his activities. But once again, there's nothing in the dialogue that states that his trial occurred the day AFTER he mailed the letters to his neighbors and the police.

Of course, there's dialogue in which events are referred to as happening on the same day. Kern talks about Valentine crying right after she left his house. He says he mailed the letters the very same night he wrote them, right after she left. He talks about writing them while she was fast asleep, and she says no, she wasn't asleep; she went bowling that night. And Kern notes that Auguste and Karin also went bowling that night, and she might have been in the lane next to them.

The film makes it clear Kern's trial took place soon after he mailed the letters, but not the very next day.

[–] Prismark10 8 years ago

Well the trial may not had taken the next day but it did happen very quickly.

It's that man again!!

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

My sentiments exactly! Blindingly quick for just about any country's judicial system.🐭

[–] Towelie_Towel (1720) 4 years ago

What's up with the weird rat in every post?