Terror's Advocate

L'avocat de la terreur

France

2007

135 Min

Color

1.85:1

German, French

Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
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CAST Jacques Vergès

Telluride, London (French), Cannes (Un Certain Regard)

Synopsis

Communist, anti-colonialist, right-wing extremist? What convictions guide the moral mind of Jacques Vergès? Barbet Schroeder takes us down history’s darkest paths in his attempt to illuminate the mystery behind this enigmatic figure.

As a young lawyer during the Algerian war, Vergès espoused the anti-colonialist cause and defended Djamila Bouhired, ‘la Pasionaria,’ who bore her country’s hopes for freedom on her shoulders and was sentenced to death for planting bombs in cafes. He obtained her release, married her and had two children with her.

Then suddenly, at the height of an illustrious career, Vergès disappeared without trace for eight years. He re-emerged from his mysterious absence, taking on the defense of terrorists of all kinds, from Magdalena Kopp and Anis Naccache to Carlos the Jackal. He represented historical monsters such as Nazi lieutenant Klaus Barbie. From the lawyer’s inflammatory and provocative cases to his controversial terrorist links, Barbet Schroeder follows the winding trail left by this ‘devil’s advocate,’ as he forges his unique path in law and politics.

Schroeder explores and questions the history of ‘blind terrorism’ through his penetrating investigation of this compelling man and leads us towards shocking revelations that expose long-hidden links in history. —Magnolia Pictures

Director

Barbet Schroeder

Barbet Schroeder’s Swiss geologist father was on assignment in Iran when he was born. After a globe-trotting childhood, Schroeder was educated at the Sorbonne; then, like half the under-30 population of France (or so it seemed), he became a movie critic. Brief jobs as a jazz concert producer and news photographer followed before Schroeder went to work as an assistant for one of his role models, French director Jean-Luc Godard. In 1964, the 22-year-old Schroeder set up his own film production company, Les Films du Losange. Among the many prominent pictures produced by Schroeder include director Eric Rohmer’s “Moral Tales” La Collectioneuse (1966), My Night at Maud’s (1969), and Claire’s Knee (1970). Schroeder himself turned director with 1969’s More, gaining critical attention with several unorthodox documentaries. With the American film Barfly (1987), Schroeder established himself as a prime purveyor of “slice of life” drama — albeit entertaining enough to please the crowd. Oscar nominated… read more

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hakaima sadamitsu

17Jul10

Jacque's Verges is a very interesting and difficult topic. It's easy to like and to hate him. Sometimes I laughed whith stuff he said and sometimes it left me really grossed out. The guy is pure evil genius. Anyway, this does not goes down as great, but it should be watched by anyone interested in the history of the 20th century.