Humanité 2000

In the remote northern region of France, a tragic event unfolds as an 11-year-old girl is brutally raped and murdered while returning home from the school bus to her parents’ secluded farm in Bailleul. Lieutenant Pharaon de Winter, haunted by the loss of his partner and child in a devastating accident, grapples with intense feelings of horror and revulsion upon being assigned to this heart-wrenching case.

Seeking solace during a weekend getaway, Pharaon reluctantly agrees to join his kind neighbor Domino and her partner Joseph, a bus driver. Their outing to the seaside and a local restaurant only highlights Pharaon’s discomfort, as he finds Joseph to be both rude and ignorant of the trauma weighing on him.

As the investigation progresses at a sluggish pace, Pharaon delves into various possibilities regarding the identity of the perpetrator, exploring the notion that the murderer could be either a bus driver or a psychiatric patient. The narrative takes him to London, where he interviews Eurostar passengers, attempting to uncover compelling leads. Unfortunately, without significant progress, the case is ultimately handed over to the Lille police.

Meanwhile, tensions soar when the factory where Domino works goes on strike, leading to protests that require police intervention under Pharaon’s leadership. While Domino initially appears outwardly upset, she secretly admires Pharaon’s quiet strength and resilience, offering herself to him passionately. However, he turns down her advances, stating, > “not like that,” as his mother expresses her disapproval of Domino’s intentions.

The plot thickens when the Lille police detain Joseph, and Pharaon, arriving at the police station, discovers Joseph in a vulnerable state, physically beaten and in tears. To his surprise, Joseph confesses his guilt while breaking down emotionally. As a man of deep sensitivity, Pharaon instinctively comforts Joseph with gentle gestures, including a tender kiss. When he returns home, he finds Domino at his kitchen table in distress, leading him to provide her with comfort amidst their shared heartbreak.

The film concludes with a haunting image of Pharaon, constrained by handcuffs at the police station, gazing out the window as the weight of the case, his emotions, and the complex ties with those around him become evident, leaving a lasting impression of unresolved pain.