Yellow Vests drama from Cannes to debut in cinemas
The French crime drama 'Case No. 137' by director Dominik Moll will be released on February 5. The film, presented in the main competition of the Cannes Festival, explores the theme of police violence against the backdrop of mass protests.
Mar 8, 2026 0
The film delves into police brutality during the Yellow Vests protests in France.
Source:
The premiere of the film «Case No. 137» took place in May 2025 as part of the main competition of the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
The detective story unfolds in Paris in 2018, engulfed by the unrest of the «Yellow Vests» movement. Investigator Stéphanie Bertrand takes on the case of an incident where police severely injured a young man. Her work threatens to discredit her own department, and the case becomes entangled with conflicting testimonies and bureaucratic obstacles. The situation complicates when Stéphanie learns that the victim is her fellow countryman from the provinces, putting her before a difficult moral choice.
The role of the investigator is played by Léa Drucker («The Burning Horizon»). Director Dominik Moll, known for the thriller «Harry, He»s Here to Help«, has created a procedural with a strong social subtext, touching on the question of »who watches the watchmen«.
Moll spoke about his interest in closed systems: «I am a big fan of documentaries about the work of hospitals, firefighters. It»s always interesting how internal hierarchy and bureaucracy work, which is usually not shown in films. «Case No. 137» explores the police as such a closed institution. Before filming, I studied many investigations into police violence and was even able to speak with investigators who handle such cases.«
The film is intended for viewers aged 18 and over.
Read more
