Maigret and the Dead Lover

Well known for his frequent screenwriting collaborations with the late Jacques Rivette, writer-director Pascal Bonitzer (Auction, Rendez-Vous 2024) takes on one of France’s most-loved characters, the gruff but humane Inspector Jules Maigret. The latest performer to embody Georges Simenon’s iconic detective, signature pipe and all, the equally legendary Denis Podalydès of the Comédie-Française is engrossing as the methodical sleuth working his way through a particularly baffling case. In a series of interrogations with mysteriously uncooperative families and domestic staff, Maigret works to uncover the truth behind the murder of a former ambassador. Staying true to Simenon’s understated, quietly riveting prose, Bonitzer presents a masterful contemporary update of one of the great sleuths while capturing the character’s essence.