The Goldman Case

November 1975 finds Pierre Goldman, a leftist figure with a controversial past, facing a second trial in a French courtroom. Accused of armed robberies and the deaths of two chemists, Goldman stands at the center of a case that divides public opinion and tests the limits of testimony and media glare. The film follows the defense team led by Maître Kiejman and the prosecutorial figures, weaving between the claustrophobic pace of the courtroom and the charged sideshow outside. As the proceedings unfold, the film probes questions of political label, memory, and justice, avoiding easy conclusions while casting a critical eye on the mechanisms that decide guilt. The result is a careful, restrained study of guilt as a record for memory.

Directed by Cédric Kahn and written by Nathalie Hertzberg, The Goldman Case draws from real historical events surrounding Pierre Goldman. The film casts Arieh Worthalter in the lead, supported by a tight ensemble that emphasizes courtroom strategy and tense mood.

Box office figures show a modest reception with limited release reach. The Goldman Case earned about 2.88 million worldwide on a 2.6 million budget, reflecting niche appeal rather than mass blockbuster status across Europe and the Americas in select markets.

On its cultural level the film positions itself as a meditation on how memory of political violence is manufactured and contested. It invites viewers to question how courtroom drama intersects with public narrative and the politics of guilt across decades, choosing quiet detail over sensational confrontation and leaving consequences hovering.

Critics note the movie offers a restrained, precise look at a charged chapter of French history. Solid performances anchor the drama, while the script maintains a steady moral center, probing responsibility, power, and the gray zones of justice. It also invites reflection on memory and accountability for viewers to consider.