Institute History
Description
When 18-year-old Jessica finds her twin sister Laetitia’s overturned scooter outside their foster parents’ home, it quickly becomes clear that something is terribly wrong. French police swiftly reconstruct the young girl’s final hours, leading to the arrest of lifelong criminal Tony Meilhon. Though investigators are convinced they have the right man, they are woefully unable to locate an integral piece of evidence: his victim’s body. The sordid details of this heinous crime develop into a focal point for the national media, drawing the attention of politicians at the highest level and leading to intense scrutiny of the country’s legal system.
Based on a true story originally documented in Ivan Jablonka’s acclaimed book Laëtitia or the End of Men, Academy Award–winning director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (The Staircase, Murder on a Sunday Morning) exquisitely weaves together fact with fiction, resulting in a textured and sometimes damning portrait of French society.
The Sundance Film Festival is proud to present the first two episodes of this captivating dramatic series, followed by a Q&A with renowned director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade.