The Night of the 12th

The Night of the 12th is a police procedural film detailing the investigation of the murder of a 21-year-old woman.

With my own personal and professional background, it is easy to discern programs and movies depicting aspects of crime and criminal investigation that are genuine and authentic. Most are not, some are a blending, and now and then, one comes along that gets it just right. One of these is the 2022 French film The Night of the 12th.

Like HBO’s The Wire, television’s Hill Street Blues, and Homicide: Life on the Street, The Night of the 12th joins the list of films authentically portraying police investigations.

From the subdued police humor that just barely approaches the distasteful while remaining realistic, to the toll taken on the humanity of all those touched by a murder, especially loved ones and family, this film excels.

In this review, I could focus on all the things this film does authentically; however, to do so would take pages. That is how good this film is regarding its subject matter.

The film opens with a jubilant young woman filming herself on her cellphone while walking home after an enjoyable evening. She is approached by a head-to-toe covered assailant and murdered in a bizarre blitz-type attack in an especially heinous manner, certain to lead to excessive publicity.

The film then follows the methodical investigation in intricate detail, including all aspects of the criminal justice system, from the murder and the victim’s loved ones to the prosecutor assigned to the case. Very little of an authentic murder investigation is left out, and each part is handled deftly by writers Gilles Marchand, Dominik Moll, and Pauline Guena. Moll also directs the film, and it is clear the creators took great care in their research and depictions to produce one of the most realistic and genuine examinations of a murder investigation.

Each uttered sentence, display of body language, and facial expression matters, with all parts telling the story, often with a subtle depth that is easily overlooked, especially how every police officer in policing for a length of time will have at least one case that haunts them for the rest of their lives.

Even the depiction of the crime scene is so well done that images appear to be from a real crime scene. While somewhat graphic, it is not done in a lurid or exaggerated manner for simple titillation.

Additionally, the portrayal of the grieving parents is handled with such a delicate touch, where typical melodrama is absent. In doing so, it allows an even deeper richness to their depicted grief. One scene is so quietly done that the imparting of grief is palpable, more so than any scene utilizing extreme displays of emotion and sound.

The acting within the film also hits all the right notes, with actors wonderfully portraying their characters with realism. Bastien Bouillon portrays Captain Youhan Vives, a young police captain who quietly but powerfully depicts the tolls of a lengthy investigation on even the youthful and energetic. Vives leads a team with veteran, bone-weary detective Marceau (Bouli Lanners) and upstart rookie detective Nadia (Mouna Soualem). Bone-weary Marceau, near the end stages of his career, now questions the purpose of remaining in policing while struggling with domestic turmoil of his own, longing for inner peace. Nadia, being the only female in the unit, slowly interjects thoughts and philosophies of crime and gender in ways that nudge the young captain to start examining criminal behavior from her perspective, which only adds to his internal battles regarding perpetrators of violent crime.

The Night of the 12th is highly recommended to those who enjoy complex and methodical criminal investigations that come with subtle and deeper meanings that tend to stick with the viewer.

The film is currently streaming and available on Kanopy for free.