In the Shadow of Iris

On the night a banker's wife vanishes without a trace, a web of secrecy starts to unravel. The case pulls in a mix of power players, intimate cravings, and calculated lies that ripple through a tightly wired social circle. Max Lopez, a driven figure caught between loyalty and motive, finds himself navigating a labyrinth of hints, all pointing to a truth that may be more troubling than anyone imagined. As investigators close in, fragile alliances fray and every gesture may conceal a different purpose. The story keeps its focus on character fragility, moral ambiguity, and the high stakes that wealth can mask.

Directed by Jalil Lespert, the thriller is adapted from a story by Jérémie Guez and Andrew Bovell and released in 2016. It brings together an accomplished European cast led by Romain Duris as Max Lopez and Charlotte Le Bon as Claudia, with Camille Cottin and Adel Bencherif in supporting roles. The mood is stylish yet tense, balancing glossy surface with psychological unease. The film builds its tension through a meticulous sequence of inquiries and confrontations, letting character choices push the plot forward rather than action set pieces. This is very much a character driven drama about desire, power and the cost of secrets within a high stakes social world.

Box office data for In the Shadow of Iris is not widely published, and the film did not become a major commercial headline.

Reception seems mixed, with an average around 5.8 out of 10 based on a modest number of votes. Critics acknowledge the film for its quiet intensity and the way it uses wealth and secrecy to fuel tension, while some feel its plot remains underdeveloped. The themes center on how desire and obligation intersect with power, and how the veneer of sophistication can obscure moral ambiguity and the costs paid by those who hide their true motives.