Maldoror directed by Fabrice du Welz is a dark, tense and moral thriller in its examination of the nature of evil based on a horrific real-life Belgian case.
The Price of Justice
by Alexa DalbyMaldoror
3.0 out of 5.0 stars
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
Belgium is clearly still recovering years later from the shock of the horror case of paedophile Marc Dutroux in 1995, sentenced in 2004. Maldoror (the code name for the investigation in the film and, notoriously, a synonym for evil) is based on it.
Idealistic rookie police recruit Paul (Antoine Bajon) joins a unit tracking a sex offender (Sergi López). When a dysfunctional police force does not uncover the paedophile ring in the establishment that he is part of, and also solve the disappearance of two little girls, he feels compelled to continue the quest himself. His fight against the system in his pursuit of justice affects and alienates everyone in his life, as is gradually revealed, and as he becomes more driven, he becomes increasingly isolated.
The colour palette is muddy, with rain-sodden industrial landscapes, grey skies, reflecting the pervading atmosphere of decay in Maldoror.
Maldoror premiered at the Venice International Film Festival. It screens at the BFI LFF 2024 on 16 and 18 October 2024. International representation is by The PR Factory.
