A Parisian lawyer specializing in taxation finds herself defending a young man accused of murder in Reims.
Living with her parents, proud Algerian immigrants, recently graduated in law, Nora Aït (Noée Abita) is the perfect embodiment of the good girl. One evening when she is bored in a club with her friends, she receives a call from Me from Saint-Brieuc (François Morel), her boss. She must immediately go to Reims for the custody of Jordan Blésy (Alexis Neises), 18, accused of the murder of a friend of her sister.
Having driven all night from Paris, Nora doesn’t make a good impression on her client, who demands an older lawyer – she’s only 26 – nor on the Norwegian police officer in charge of the case, Alexis Servan (Anders Danielsen Lie). Intoxicated by the experience, she convinces Saint-Brieuc to let her defend Jordan, whom she believes to be innocent. From then on, Nora divides her time between Paris and Reims. And soon, Alexis will also be traveling back and forth between Reims and Paris.
For his first feature film, First caseVictoria Musiedlak is said to have been inspired by the transformation of a young lawyer in her circle. Despite a few abrupt ellipses, the portrait she sketches of Nora certainly does not lack finesse. Thus we see her gradually lose her candor as she discovers the workings of a criminal trial, violence against women, the cynicism of her peers, social inequalities and the feeling of injustice of the victim’s relatives.
While she explores the professional aspect in a plausible manner, the filmmaker shows less subtlety in depicting the character’s private sphere. While she develops a bond with her older sister (Sonia Bendhaou), she breaks free with noise and fury from her benevolent father (Chad Chenouga) and her demanding mother (Saadia Bentaïeb).
It is also unfortunate that Victoria Musiedlak grafts into the story a love story between the lawyer and the investigator (who are separated by 13 years in fiction and 20 years in reality), which culminates in an unbelievable reaction from Nora. The romance takes up so much space that the much more captivating criminal case is neglected and given a hasty conclusion.
From a staging totally at the service of the actors, bathed in the cold light of Martin Rit, who also creates expressive shadow effects, First case proves to be a bearer of great promise. Beyond the undeniable talent of Victoria Musiedlak, however, it is that of the charismatic Noée Abita who eclipses everything in her path. Faced with the overwhelming Alexis Neises and the imposing Anders Danielsen Lie, the actress, endowed with a slender physique, a mischievous face and a hypnotic gaze, imposes herself thanks to her performance all in lace.
Indoors
Drama
First case
Victoria Musiedlak
Noée Abita, Anders Danielsen Lie, Alexis Neises
1 h 38