“Criminalists are often associated with crime. The purpose ofIndefensible, TVA’s very first original daily fiction, is to show who we are. »
Me Richard Dubé has been a full-time criminal lawyer for 38 years. He even worked at the International Criminal Court in The Hague during the trial associated with the Rwandan genocide. Juries and murders, so he’s seen a lot. “I had the idea for the series 20-25 years ago. Because my practice of criminal law is daily, my background allows me to feed the story quite easily. When I write, it flows,” explains the creator ofIndefensible. While the “American-style” team of screenwriters spice up the plots and improve the synopses of the series’ main author, Nadine Bismuth, Me Richard Dubé takes care, among other things, of writing the dialogues.
” [Ce qui se dit] when a client arrives in the lawyers’ office, only I can write it. The same goes for the hearings, the verdict, the debriefing, etc. »Indefensible thus explores the realities of the Montreal firm headed by Mr.e Leo MacDonald (Sebastien Delorme) and Mr.e André Lapointe (Michel Laperriere).
Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, for her part, takes it brilliantly — it is perhaps one of her best interpretations to date — one of the other main roles, that of Me Marie-Anne Desjardins, who has been practicing criminal law for ten years, but who is just getting back to pleading after a two-year break. “Marie-Anne doesn’t have her tongue in her pocket, but she has a heart. She is a little tough love, but she has a lot of humor,” explains the actress. “The further the series progresses, the more we delve into the personal lives of the protagonists. Mine, in particular, will try to define itself outside of its career, because everyone evolves in the face of adversity, which forces us to redefine ourselves. »
By accompanying her character over the rhythm of the show, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé was also able to learn more about the Quebec judicial system. “I didn’t know anything about it. I had never even entered a courthouse. Thanks to Indefensible, I now have a great deal of respect for the profession of criminal lawyer, which is a noble profession. My prejudices have all fallen away,” she says. And to continue: “We must not trust appearances. Everyone is entitled to a full and complete defence, to the presumption of innocence. »
Authenticity and transparency
The episodes of the series bear witness to this: the presumption of innocence is the cement that binds criminal lawyers to their profession.
“We are people of values. The defense of the presumption of innocence is what motivates us every day,” added Ms.e Richard Dube. “We do not support the individual or the crime, but the right to be presumed innocent and all that derives from it. Moreover, it is often said that the defense lawyer is the last bastion before the police state. »
By half-opening the door to this universe unknown to the greatest number, the creator also promises many surprises to viewers. “People don’t notice it, but the criminals we see in our offices are Mr. and Mrs. Everybody. Of course, organized crime, for example, exists. In practice, however, this represents very little [des causes] “, he specifies.
For the sake of education, Mr.e Richard Dubé also ensures that a panoply of cases rich in emotions will be presented throughIndefensible. “We wanted to show how the judicial process really happens, with the notions of law and the strategic moments that it involves. There’s no hype or added vitamins,” the series creator points out. Since the daily life of a criminal lawyer is already spectacular, punctuated by human drama and rooted in an unfailing commitment to the accused despite the crimes they have committed, why do more?
Finally, M.e Richard Dubé and the team of screenwriters took particular care in the treatment of victims in their series. “It is not because we expose the mission of defense lawyers that we want to diminish that of other players in the judicial system. You don’t interrogate an alleged sexual assault victim like you interrogate a contract killer. We do this delicately and with respect! he concludes.