An Officer and a Spy (French: J'accuse) is a 2019 historical drama film directed by Roman Polanski about the Dreyfus affair, with a screenplay by Polanski and Robert Harris based on Harris's 2013 novel of the same name. The name J'accuse has its origins in Émile Zola's article in l'Aurore in January 1898 in which the famous author accused many people of France of continuing to support the increasingly blatantly erroneous accusations against Dreyfus.
In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, captain in the French army, is found guilty of high treason for passing military secrets to the German Empire. He is condemned to exile on Devil's Island; his affair triggers an echo in France since Dreyfus is Jewish. One year later, officer Georges Picquart, Dreyfus' former teacher, is appointed head of the secret service section in the French army (Deuxième Bureau). The man, despite alleged anti-Semitic sentiments, is aware that the trial against Dreyfus was summary and biased by Dreyfus' Jewish origins. Noticing some irregularities in the dossier of the affair, he decides to conduct an investigation to verify Dreyfus' guilt. Picquart discovers that the so-called bordereau, the document that ostensibly proves his guilt, was not written by Dreyfus, as the graphologistAlphonse Bertillon had claimed, but by another soldier: Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. According to Picquart, he is the real spy, but the evidence has been prejudiced or even falsified to the detriment of Dreyfus.
Picquart is convinced of Dreyfus' innocence and tries to reopen the trial to exonerate him and arrest Esterhazy, but meets the opposition of his superiors: admitting Dreyfus' innocence would result in a great scandal that would lead to the discovery of corruption in the army, while the man, as a Jew, is the perfect scapegoat. Picquart is then removed from office and sent on a mission far from Paris. However, he manages to return and tell everything to his friend, the lawyer Louis Leblois, who begins to organise a committee for the rehabilitation of Dreyfus, involving his colleague Fernand Labori, members of the Parliament and intellectuals, including the famous author Émile Zola.
Picquart's insubordination leads to his arrest, but on the same day Zola publishes in the newspaper L'Aurore the article entitled J'accuse, where he fiercely criticises the irregularities of the trial of Dreyfus and exposes all the people involved in the case. Zola, on a complaint from the government, is tried for defamation and, due to the false declarations made in the courtroom by the soldiers called to witness, the writer is sentenced to one year in prison. While the whole of France is divided between innocent and guilty parties, the intellectuals signing the pro-Dreyfus petition are targeted for popular hatred. Later, after losing a duel against Picquart, Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Joseph Henry, who had testified against Dreyfus, admits he perjured himself, and dies shortly after, apparently by suicide.
Following Henry's depositions, Picquart is acquitted and released, while Dreyfus is repatriated for a second trial which occurs in Rennes in 1899. Shortly before the decisive hearing, the lawyer Labori suffers an assassination attempt and is unable to defend Dreyfus. The man is sentenced again, but the sentence to be served is made lighter by the recognition of the extenuating circumstances. Immediately, the Prime Minister grants Dreyfus a pardon. Picquart would like to continue fighting to prove his innocence, but Dreyfus, exhausted, accepts it. Seven years later there will be full acquittal and reintegration into the army.
In 1907, Picquart is appointed Minister of War, also thanks to the recognition of the judicial error to the detriment of him. Dreyfus asks him for an audience and protests because the years in which he has unfairly served his sentence have not been recognised, preventing him from reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. Picquart cannot make this concession to him as the political climate has changed again, which causes Dreyfus' outrage. The two men part from each other with respect, never to see each other again.
Robert Harris was inspired to write the novel by his friend Polanski, who has long had an interest in the Dreyfus affair.[6] Harris followed the novel with a script of the same story, titled D, with Polanski announced as director in 2012.[7]
This film was the third occasion Harris has worked with Polanski.[8] Harris previously co-wrote The Ghost Writer with Polanski, which was also an adaptation of one of Harris's novels, The Ghost. The two first worked together in 2007 on a film adaptation of Harris's novel Pompeii,[9] which was cancelled just before filming due to a looming actors' strike.[10][11]
Although set in Paris, the film was first scheduled to shoot in Warsaw in 2014, for economic reasons.[12] Production was postponed after Polanski moved to Poland for filming, and the US government filed extradition papers. The Polish government eventually rejected them. By that point, new French film tax credits had been introduced, which allowed the film to shoot on location in Paris.
The film was budgeted at €60m and was next set to start production in July 2016,[13] but its production was postponed again while Polanski waited on the availability of a star, whose name was never announced.[14]
Filming began on 26 November 2018[15] and was completed on 28 April 2019.[16] The film was produced by Alain Goldman's Légende Films and distributed by Gaumont.[17]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 30 August 2019.[18][19] At the Venice Film Festival, the film won the Grand Jury Prize.[20] It was released in France on 13 November 2019,[21] and in Italy on 21 November 2019.[22]
The film has never been released theatrically or on home video in the US, the UK, Australia or New Zealand.[23]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 76% of 34 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7/10.[24] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 56 out of 100, based on nine critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[25] The film received a standing ovation during its premiere in Venice.[26][27][28]
David Sexton, writing for the Evening Standard, gave the film a rating of four out of five, declaring that: "It's an absolute masterclass in how to make a historical film".[29]
The film has received backlash due to parallels Polanski allegedly made between his sexual abuse case and the film's plot.[30][31][32]
Controversy
Polanski's attendance at the Venice Film Festival was his first appearance at a major film event since he was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in May 2018. During the festival, the head of the jury Lucrecia Martel stated: "I don't separate the man from the art. I think that important aspects of the work emerges in the man. [...] A man who commits a crime of this size who is then condemned, and the victim considers herself satisfied with the compensation is difficult for me to judge... It is difficult to define what is the right approach we have to take with people who have committed certain acts and were judged for them. I think these questions are part of the debate in our times."[33] Martel also stated she would not attend a gala dinner in support of the film.[34]
Polanski's producers threatened to pull the film from the festival lineup.[35][36] Martel later clarified her comments, stating: "According to some reports after today's press conference, I believe my words were deeply misunderstood. Since I don't separate the work from the author and I have recognised a lot of humanity in Polanski's previous films, I am not opposed to the presence of the film in competition. I don't have any prejudice towards it and of course I will watch the film like any other in the competition. If I had any prejudice, I would have resigned my duty as the president of the jury."[37]
Alberto Barbera, the festival director of Venice, had previously defended the film being in the lineup, stating: "We are here to see works of art, not to judge the person behind it. I hope we can just discuss about the quality of the film and not about Polanski and the case with L.A. County."[38]
U.S. distribution companies rejected invitations to a buyers' presentation during the Cannes Film Festival.[39][40] Howard Cohen of Roadside Attractions stated: "I think we would consider it, though I'm not even sure how I personally feel. People have been releasing his films for years. Now, we are looking at it through a different lens, with good reason. We have to search our souls if it's the right thing to do. What does it mean to release this movie? I don't think that's a settled question even in my mind."[41]
In November 2019, five days before the official release of An Officer and a Spy in France, Polanski faced accusations of rape by a French woman, Valentine Monnier. Upon the release, French feminist groups invaded or blockaded several cinemas, having the film cancelled in some places.[42]
When the film was nominated for 12 César Awards in January 2020, women's groups said that the French film academy was acclaiming "an abuser and rapist on the run".[42] Eventually, Polanski as well as other crew members of An Officer and a Spy did not attend the 45th César Awards ceremony.[43] No one was there to accept the awards on Polanski's behalf.[44][45] The César Award for Best Director to Polanski was poorly received by the audience. Several people walked out in disgust, including Best Actress nominee Adèle Haenel.[44][46]
Lambang Kadipaten Ernestine dalam sebuah prasastiKadipaten-Kadipaten Ernestine atau juga disebut dengan Kadipaten-Kadipaten Sachsen (meskipun apanase Kadipaten Albertine yang menguasai Weissenfels, Mersburg dan Zeitz juga disebut Kadipaten Sachsen walaupun wilayahnya terlepas dari Kadipaten Ernestine) adalah kumpulan dari wilayah-wilayah berdaulat kecil yang dulunya ada di wilayah yang sekarang adalah Jerman (wilayah Thuringia). Wilayah ini dipimpin oleh adipati dari garis keturunan Adipati E...
Part of the Croatian War of Independence Battle of the Miljevci PlateauPart of the Croatian War of IndependenceMiljevciZadarŠibenikKninMiljevci Plateau on the map of Croatia. RSK- or JNA-held areas in early 1992 are highlighted red.Date21–23 June 1992LocationDalmatia, CroatiaResult Croatian victoryBelligerents Croatia Republic of Serbian KrajinaCommanders and leaders Rahim Ademi Milan TorbicaUnits involved 113th Brigade142nd Brigade 1st BrigadeStrength 250 unknownCasualties and losse...
Sam Hird Adrian Samuel Hird (7 de septiembre de 1987) es un entrenador de fútbol inglés y ex futbolista profesional que es entrenador del primer equipo en el Bolton Wanderers de la EFL League One . Como jugador, fue defensa central o mediocampista defensivo y, sobre todo, tuvo largas temporadas tanto en el Doncaster Rovers como en el Chesterfield . También jugó para Grimsby Town, Alfreton Town y Barrow . Carrera de juego Leeds United Nacido en Norton, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Hird firm...
Penari Bali di depan Barong, raja roh baik dalam wujud seperti singa dalam kebudayaan Bali. Roh (Arab: روح, ruuh) adalah unsur non-materi yang ada dalam jasad yang diciptakan Tuhan sebagai penyebab adanya kehidupan. Roh adalah pengendali jiwa dan raga, roh bertindak sebagai pikiran jiwa dan raga, jiwa merasakan seolah-olah pikiran itu asli dari diri sendiri, sebenarnya roh itulah yang bersandiwara sebagai pikiran manusia. Pandangan Islam Artikel utama: Roh (Islam) Ruh-ruh manusia ketik...
فنتازيا عُليا أو الفنتازيا الملحميّة (بالإنجليزية: High fantasy) هو نوع فنّي مُتفرّع من الفنتازيا.[1] يتم تحديد هذا النوع عن طريق الطبيعة الملحميّة والبيئة التي تقع أحداث القصّة فيها، بالإضافة للشخصيات أو المواضيع أو الحبكة الفنيّة.[2] ميزات تقع أحدث الفنتازيا الملحمية ع
Ostrów Wielkopolski Luas wilayah 42 km² Penduduk 73.000 (2004) Kode telepon (+48) 62 Ostrów Wielkopolski on-line Ostrów Wielkopolski (Ostrów, bahasa Jerman Ostrowo) ialah sebuah kota di sungai Ołobok di Polandia tengah di provinsi Polandia Besar. Memperoleh hak kota pada abad ke-15, menjadi bagian Prusia antara 1793-1918 dan Jerman pada 1939-45. Katedral St. Stanislaus Wikimedia Commons memiliki media mengenai Ostrów Wielkopolski. Artikel bertopik geografi atau tempat Polandia ini...
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Collinear antenna array – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (left & center) Collinear folded dipole arrays. Often used as base station antenna for dispatcher for police, fire, am...
This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display. Town in Manipur, IndiaMoirang Keke Moilang, Kege MoirangtownA statue of Netaji Subhashchandra Bose in the INA Memorial Complex in MoirangMoirangShow map of ManipurMoirangShow map of IndiaCoordinates: 24°30′N 93°46′E / 24.5°N 93.77°E / 24.5; 93.77CountryIndiaStateManipurDistrictBishnupurElevation766 m (2,513 ft)Population (2001) •...
Species of flowering plant Boojum tree Boojum tree in Baja California desert, Cataviña region. Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Ericales Family: Fouquieriaceae Genus: Fouquieria Species: F. columnaris Binomial name Fouquieria columnaris(Kellogg) Kellogg ex Curran Synonyms[1] Idria columnaris Kellogg Fouquieria gigantea Orcutt Fouquieria columnaris, the Boojum tree or cirio (Latin American Sp...
دانيال سالامانكا أوري معلومات شخصية الميلاد 8 يوليو 1863(1863-07-08)كوتشابامبا الوفاة 17 يوليو 1935 (72 سنة)كوتشابامبا سبب الوفاة سرطان المعدة مواطنة بوليفيا مناصب رئيس جمهورية بوليفيا (39 ) في المنصب5 مارس 1931 – 27 نوفمبر 1934 كارلوس بلانكو غاليندو الحياة العملية ا...
Gulf in Bicol PeninsulaAlbay GulfAn aerial view of the gulf beside Legazpi City with Mayon Volcano in the backgroundAlbay GulfLocation within LuzonShow map of AlbayAlbay GulfAlbay Gulf (Luzon)Show map of LuzonAlbay GulfAlbay Gulf (Philippines)Show map of PhilippinesLocationBicol PeninsulaCoordinates13°11′17″N 123°55′51″E / 13.188°N 123.9308°E / 13.188; 123.9308TypegulfEtymologyAlbaySettlementsBacacayLegazpiManitoPrieto DiazRapu-RapuSanto DomingoSorsogon Cit...
Taiwanese actor, model, and musician In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu. Jasper LiuLiu in 2020BornLiu Yi-hao (1986-08-12) August 12, 1986 (age 37)Taipei, TaiwanOther namesRyuAlma materDayeh UniversityOccupationsActormodelsingerYears active2008–presentMusical careerGenresMandopopInstrument(s)GuitarvocalsLabelsJasper Liu Studio & Pourquoi Pas Music (2019–present)Eelin Entertainment (2009–2019)Formerly ofMorning Call Musical artistChinese nameTraditional&#...
2 Tawarikh 16Kitab Tawarikh (Kitab 1 & 2 Tawarikh) lengkap pada Kodeks Leningrad, dibuat tahun 1008.KitabKitab 2 TawarikhKategoriKetuvimBagian Alkitab KristenPerjanjian LamaUrutan dalamKitab Kristen14← pasal 15 pasal 17 → 2 Tawarikh 16 (atau II Tawarikh 16, disingkat 2Taw 16) adalah pasal keenam belas Kitab 2 Tawarikh dalam Alkitab Ibrani dan Perjanjian Lama di Alkitab Kristen. Dalam Alkitab Ibrani termasuk dalam bagian Ketuvim (כְּתוּבִים, tulisan).[1] Pasal...
Former railway station in Wales Ffridd GateSite of the station in 1992General informationLocationWalesOther informationStatusDisusedHistoryPre-groupingCorris RailwayPost-groupingGreat Western Railway (after 1930)Key dates25 August 1887Opened1 January 1931Closed[1] Ffridd Gate was a station on the Corris Railway in Merioneth (now Gwynedd), Wales, UK. It was built at the level crossing over the B4404 road to Llanwrin, near the hamlet of Fridd. A small hamlet also grew up around the stat...
Civil parish in Azores, PortugalConceiçãoCivil parishThe locality of Volta looking towards the central part of Espalamaca, in the main part of ConceiçãoLocation of the civil parish of Conceição in the municipality of HortaCoordinates: 38°32′53″N 28°37′46″W / 38.54806°N 28.62944°W / 38.54806; -28.62944Country PortugalAuton. regionAzoresIslandFaialMunicipalityHortaArea • Total3.08 km2 (1.19 sq mi)Elevation104 m (341&...
Eviathema.grSoroh situsNewspaperKaadegangApril 13, 2019; sampun 4 warsa (2019-04-13)MarkasGreece, GreecePendiriΣωτήρης ΜπαρσάκηςSitus webEviathema.gr(see list of localized domain names)StatusActive Surat kabar online https://www.eviathema.gr dibuat pada April 2019 oleh jurnalis Sotiris Barsakis. Secara eksklusif diterbitkan Laporan harian dan berita dari semua bidang Polisi Evia, Sosial, Olahraga, Politik, Wawancara, dll. Eviathema.gr adalah anggota terd...
