Commis d'office (2009)
Directed by Hannelore Cayre

Film Review

Hannelore Cayre makes a promising directorial debut with this idiosyncratic little film which presents a darkly ironic look at the French legal system, specifically the gross inequalities that exist between lawyers at the extreme ends of the income spectrum.  A professional lawyer herself, Cayre draws on her own experiences, adapting her best selling novel of the same title (first published in 2004) with an obvious note of disdain for some of the less honourable aspects of her career.  Despite some evident shortcomings, Commis d'office is a witty and engaging film which provides a fascinating insight into a world which (mercifully) few of us ever get to experience first hand.

Much of the charm of the film lies in the fact that it effectively combines several familiar genres - satire, black comedy, polar and realist drama - without pigeon-holing itself into any of these.  This gives the film a freshness and impression of spontaneity which helps to mask the occasional shortcomings in the screenwriting and direction.  The film's uneven structure, longueurs and fleeting forays into needless vulgarity are mostly compensated for by the captivating performances from the two lead actors, Roschdy Zem and Jean-Philippe Écoffey, who are well-cast and give commendable performances as the central players in what is effectively a wry re-telling of the Faustian legend.  Zem is perfect for the part of the sympathetic lawyer who is torn between his humanist calling (defending those who cannot afford to hire a defence lawyer) and his need to earn a living wage.  And who better to portray Zem's corrupt and deliciously venal opposite number than Écoffey, who plays the part of a legal Mephistopheles with an obvious relish?  Commis d'office may not be the most polished or astute of legal dramas but it acquits itself admirably with its tongue-in-cheek incursion into France's far from perfect judiciary. Not long after this, Zem directed another judicial themed drama, Omar m'a tuer (2011).

Film Synopsis

Antoine Lahoud has just turned forty when he realises he has lost his enthusiasm for his work as a criminal lawyer.  It galls him that he receives so little remuneration and even less gratitude for the work he does for the betterment of society.  Most of his cases are trivial and give him no satisfaction at all.  Is it for this that he spent all those years studying law to pass all those exams?  He should have known better.  Antoine is on the point of giving up when he comes under the influence of Henry Marsac, a lawyer of some distinction.  How easily does this legal big shot manage to persuade Antoine that he should be defending big time crooks rather than wasting his time on petty criminals.  Not only is the work more interesting, the financial rewards are much, much greater - as Antoine quickly discovers.  But all too soon does he realise that Marsac has an ulterior motive in helping him to improve the state of his bank balance.  One good turn deserves another...