Gloria’s Law: The Devil’s Advocate

Gloria Mendoza was one of France's most feared and admired criminal lawyers, famous for defending gangsters and regular people accused of violent crimes. After a career of courtroom victories that earned her the nickname 'The Devil's Advocate' and the Bar Council's ire, she retires. Years later she suspects a link between the recent death of a 15-year-old girl and her own daughter's past, and she starts piecing together old cases, confrontations and compromises that shaped her reputation. The film follows Gloria as she revisits relationships and lines she once crossed, balancing legal maneuvering with personal responsibility, while other characters react to a woman who made winning a principle. She probes old evidence and memories while testing loyalties and truth again.

Directed by Didier Le Pêcheur and released in 2017, Gloria's Law: The Devil's Advocate stars Victoria Abril as Gloria Mendoza, with Julien Baumgartner, Jean-Claude Adelin and Andréa Ferréol. It was produced in France for a French audience on French soil.

Box office figures for the film are not widely reported, and it did not register as a major international commercial hit, remaining more visible within French markets and specialty screenings. Home media and streaming availability varies by territory, limiting exposure.

The title and Gloria's nickname 'The Devil's Advocate' helped the film spark conversations about the ethics of defense work in France, and Victoria Abril's portrayal became a talking point among viewers who appreciated the moral ambiguity presented on screen. It has been cited in small legal circles debating defense ethics.

Critics gave the film mixed to positive notices, reflected in a 6.5/10 vote average, with particular praise for Abril's performance. Reviewers noted its focus on grief, professional compromise and the personal cost of legal success, themes that drive much of the drama. Some reviewers singled out its deliberate pacing negatively.