Scene of the Crime

Directed by André Téchiné, Scene of the Crime (Le Lieu du crime, 1986) is a French drama about a family coming apart in rural France, whose fragile balance is shattered when a fugitive appears in their midst. Despite its title, the film works less as a crime thriller than as a psychological family drama centered on repression and personal freedom: a 13-year-old boy finds himself caught between two kinds of people — those content with the stifling quiet of bourgeois life and those who value freedom and the pursuit of their desires above comfort, even at the cost of breaking the law. Catherine Deneuve stars alongside Danielle Darrieux, Wadeck Stanczak and Victor Lanoux. The film screened in competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, and Darrieux received a César nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1987 for her role.