Terror's Advocate (Barbet Schroeder, 2007)

[David Ehrenstein]

Barbet Scroeder's new documentary about "controversial" (to put it very mildly) French lawyer Jacques Verges is a new high-point in his career. Easily his best documentary, this might be destribed as Marcel Ophuls gone punk.

Issue of a French father and a Vietnamese mother Verges was born an outsider. His father wasn't from France but the Isle de Reunion (cineastes see Truffaut's La Sirene du Mississipi ) his mother rendered his lineage quasi-Asian. He first made his name defending a famous Algerian terrorist who he later married (they are now long-separated.) He next most infamously turned up to defend "The Butcher of Lyons," Klaus Barbie. But hold on -- he went to school as a child with Pol Pot -- who appears in the film's very first shot. IOW prepare to have your mind-boggled

Terror's Advocate examines the actual history of late 20th Century terrorism in which extreme left and extreme right intermingle in ways that leave your jaw on the floor. Such people not only have no scruples they have no beliefs either -- other than making money and exercising power. Verges says Carlos the Jackal (a major presence in the film and an
actual friend of Verges though he at one point denies it to Barbet - twitching as he does so) is "really a psychopath." (Well, DUH!)

Barbet is an amazing man. Born in Tehran he has spent the better part of his life half between France and Los Angeles. He produced all of Eric Rohmer's
films and many of Rivette's. He also acts from time to time, playing a key role in Rivette's Celine and Julie Go Boating and can be seen most recently in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. His most famous American film is Reversal of Fortune. His most curious American film is Barfly starring Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke from an original screenplay by Charles Bukowski. He's also "for hire" on such diverse fair as Murder by Numbers and the remake of Kiss of Death. But he saves his real self for the likes of Our Lady of the Assassins (the film that City of God wanted to be.)

His most famous documentaries prior to this were Idi Amin Dada (I wrote the liner notes for the Criterion DVD) and Koko -- a Talking Gorilla. He has been actress Bulle Ogier's significant other since the dawn of time.

Barbet loves playing with fire. His Idi Amin doc was made at actual risk to his life, as there were several instances (quite obvious on film) where Idi was inches away from ordering Barbet's death. That Klaus Von Bulow should interest him logically follows. But Verges is a whole 'nother shootin' match.

The "money" quote: Barbet asks him if he'd defend Hitler in court and Verges says "Oh I'll go you one better -- I'd defend George Bush. But only if he pled guilty!"

Erroll Morris is a pussy. Barbet is the real deal.

[Jeff]

trailer

[Hai2u]

Is it supposed to stop at "Riveting.

[Jeff]

Is it supposed to stop at "Riveting.

try this one

[Oedipax]

try this one

Looks good - interesting that they used the shot from The Battle of Algiers for the first explosion before cutting to the others.

[franco]

I saw it last night. There is a lot of footage from Battle of Algiers. Verges is a phenomenal storyteller - although I wish the second hour could be as organized as the first hour, which left me in complete admiration.

The Bush joke got the loudest audience laughter I've heard in cinema.

[David Ehrenstein]

"Verges is a phenomenal storyteller "

He's also a phenomenal liar.

[Mr Sausage]

"Verges is a phenomenal storyteller "

He's also a phenomenal liar.

Hardly mutually exclusive categories.

[colinr0380]

"Verges is a phenomenal storyteller "

He's also a phenomenal liar.

Hardly mutually exclusive categories.

And both of which are prerequisites for any lawyer!

[Faux Hulot]

His most curious American film is Barfly starring Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke from an original screenplay by Charles Bukowski.

Those curious about Schroeder might also want to read Hollywood, Bukowski' roman à clef about the making of Barfly. There's some great anecdotes, including a story I have no trouble believing, where "Pinchot" (the Schroeder character) nearly cuts off one of his own fingers to get his backers to give him what he wants. Say, I wonder why Schroeder has never acted for Herzog?