28/35
Line of Events
Two girls disappear
Police rookie Paul Chartier joins an undercover unit tracking a sex offender. After the operation fails, Chartier pursues the perpetrators independently, frustrated by legal restrictions. (2024). In Maldoror, director Fabrice du Welz examines one of the darkest pages in recent Belgian history.
This failure led to a complete reorganization of law enforcement
The abduction and death of several teenage girls by Marc Dutru caused a national shock in 1996. The fact that the local police force and criminal investigators were almost uncooperative during the investigation may have cost the girls their lives. The film tells the story from the point of view of a police officer, Paul Charlier, who searches the basement where the girls are hidden. He heard them whispering, but couldn’t find them because of the limited search warrant.
Charlie knows he’s right, but his superiors have other priorities
These events take place in reality, but Du Welz mixes fact and fiction in his film. He describes the policeman as a typical street cop who prefers his intuition to rules and procedures. Ultimately, his stubbornness and lack of respect for authority lead to his downfall, the end of his marriage, but also his ultimate moral victory. The film is both a thrilling police thriller and a study of Charlie’s character.
Visually, the film is a joy to watch
His strong will is the result of his upbringing: his parents were far from law abiding. He is determined to be ‘on the right side’, but for him, hunting down criminals is what counts. If rules and regulations stand in the way, he ignores them. The desolate industrial wasteland of Charleroi, where the kidnappings took place, is being used to the max.
But some events are obviously made up
Also, the hopelessness of the city, where illegal activities seem to thrive, adds to the dark atmosphere. The film documents an important part of Belgian history and for those following the events of the time, it is an interesting interpretation. In order to make a thrilling police thriller with political elements, the film abandoned historical accuracy.