The Accusation (2021 film)

Gaumont

Industry	Film production and distribution
Founded	1895
Headquarters	Paris , France
Products	Films

The Accusation () is a 2021 French courtroom drama film directed by Yvan Attal. The script, co-written by Attal and Yaël Langmann, is an adaptation of Karine Tuil's 2019 novel Les Choses humaines. The film debuted on 9 September 2021 at the 78th Venice International Film Festival and was subsequently released in France by Gaumont (company) on 1 December 2021.

Plot

Alexandre Farel, the son of well-known television host Jean Farel, returns to France after completing his studies in the United States. His mother, Claire, lives with Adam Wizman, who is separated from his Orthodox Jewish wife and their daughter Mila. At a gathering for alumni of Lycée Henri-IV, Alexandre encounters Mila. The following day, Alexandre is taken into custody on allegations of raping Mila. He refutes the accusation, insisting the encounter was consensual. This claim sparks a profound familial and judicial turmoil as the court proceedings advance.

Production

The screenplay draws from Karine Tuil's 2019 novel Les Choses humaines, which earned both the Prix Interallié and the Prix Goncourt des Lycéens. The narrative was influenced by the 2015 sexual assault case at Stanford University involving Brock Turner.

Director Yvan Attal selected his partner Charlotte Gainsbourg and their son, Ben Attal, both of whom had roles in his 2019 movie My Dog Stupid. Filming commenced in August 2020, mainly at the courthouse in Créteil (Val-de-Marne) and various sites around Paris, wrapping up by November 2020.

Release

The Accusation had its world premiere on 9 September 2021 during the 78th Venice International Film Festival and was also shown at the 47th Deauville American Film Festival on 11 September 2021. It was released in French cinemas by Gaumont (company) on 1 December 2021.

Box office

In France, the film attracted 182,074 viewers, generating approximately $1.3 million in domestic revenue.

Critical response

On the French review aggregator AlloCiné, The Accusation holds an average score of 3.1 out of 5 stars based on 28 critiques. Meanwhile, on Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts an 88% approval rating from 8 critics, with an average rating of 7.8/10.

Jordan Mintzer from The Hollywood Reporter commented that the film "tends to overstay its welcome," pointing out issues with its pacing.

Accolades

Award	Ceremony Date	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome	Template:Ref heading
César Awards	25 February 2022	Best Adaptation	Yaël Langmann, Yvan Attal	Template:Nom
Miskolc International Film Festival	17 September 2022	Emeric Pressburger Prize for Best Feature Film	The Accusation	Template:Nom

External links

• Official site
• IMDb page
• Rotten Tomatoes listing