PREVIOUSLY
A serious kidney condition chronic in the victim.
Explain the cause of death.
They tried to force dismissal by accusing Malik of what happened to him.
It's always the same with cases like this.
You mean when it's a Maghrebian victim?
Now they need to return my son
so I can bury him with dignity beside his father in Algeria.
And he was French. We should have the funeral here.
Hasn't she already suffered enough? That Malik wanted to convert?
They found this on him.
Please tell me that wasn't the reason the police beat him to death.
Nothing's more important than family, huh?
I said nothing.
There were rioters.
We dispersed the gathering in a proactive manner.
My bike went into a skid.
You did enter the building.
I dropped my gun.
When you reached the place in order to look for Schmitt's gun…
There was just one guy.
Sir!
-Fatna Oussekine? Don't move. -No!
Shut up!
A witness came in.
No, no, no, please! Don't, please!
The first time I saw Malik Oussekine, he was being chased by the police.
DECEMBER 5, 1986
Good luck on your first day! Mom
No.
-What's your partner's name? -Garcia.
Garcia! Sit with us.
Man, you belong with this group now.
I don't mean to…
Pleasure.
-It's better with us, isn't it? -Yeah.
Duruisseau's here.
Bring it in.
Gentlemen, I've finally received orders from headquarters.
So, we're finally good to go? Been here since this morning.
-They should've sent us home. -All right, hold on.
The Latin Quarter is pretty calm now.
Yeah, now it's all calm, until the next time the rioters attack us.
Right, men, it's calm, but they want us to secure the area.
So stay in groups,
and if you see any rioters, disperse them in a proactive manner.
-Is that clear? -Yes, Commissioner!
Let's go, Motor Units!
On your bikes! All right, let's stay awake, guys!
That's it, man. It's time to ride.
Come on, guys. Let's go!
This is it! We're riding! We're on! Let's go!
Forgive me, but I-- I don't understand.
Why don't you file a complaint?
Why are you acting as if it's nothing?
I told you. I don't want them to see me suffer.
And I don't wanna worry Mom unnecessarily.
It's just going to happen again, Fatna.
Do you really think it would stop if I go to the police?
Sarah, we can't have the president publicly defending us
and then be shocked these fascists are angry.
-So what? We let it go on? -Sarah, quit it!
-Why should I quit it? -Please!
There's no point in this.
We have to stay united.
At least for Mom's sake.
AUGUST 20, 1977
COURT OF ORAN
The Property Records Office? I can't find it.
-Second floor. -Thank you.
You're welcome.
Come in.
Hello.
My family and I have been on the road for three hours.
We came from Msirda.
Do you have an appointment?
We've been staying with my wife's family for a week now.
Ma'am, come in with your children and close the door.
-Have a seat.
-Hello. -Hello. What do you want?
I have a house here in Oran.
Mmm.
I worked in France for a long time, since before Algerian independence.
I used to send money to one of my cousins to oversee its construction.
And now that the house is finished, he lives there with his children,
and they don't want to leave.
I have here a property deed
which proves that I am the owner.
We want to return home. As our president said,
"Return to your homeland." And that's what we've done.
We no longer wish to live abroad, brother.
Is this your signature?
Yes.
What your cousin had you sign is a property deed in his name.
It's written right here.
You can't read?
Now the house belongs to him. That's it.
Pardon me, brother, but can't we find a solution?
Can't we produce other papers to show my cousin cheated me, brother?
I'm not your brother.
There are laws here as well.
What were you doing over there
when you should've been learning to read Arabic here?
What was I doing?
I was paying for the revolution with the sweat of my brow.
And what were you doing, eh?
-Miloud. -What were you doing?
Miloud. Let's go, kids.
Let's go. Let's go, Miloud.
May God help you.
Mom!
Mom! Dad fell down!
Mom!
Miloud? Miloud!
Miloud!
Help! My husband!
Miloud!
Call an ambulance! Call the medics!
-Malik, get help! -We need a doctor! Please help us!
Hey! Help!
I've just come back from court, and I have news.
The results of the expert testimony have just come in.
And they establish a probable connection
between the effects of his injuries and Malik's demise.
So, will this lead to an indictment?
Potentially. But there's more to it.
A witness came in, a young man who lives at 20 rue Monsieur-le-Prince.
Paul Bayzelon. He saw everything.
There were three of them. The witness, too, was beaten.
He recognized Sergeant Schmitt, the second policeman.
With Garcia's confession, we can get two indictments.
And the third one gets a pass?
-What about his indictment? -The third one?
I don't know if you realize, this witness changes everything.
There is no burying this. They'll have to do a reconstruction.
That's how we get them.
But this witness, he's the last person to see Malik alive, right?
Yes, undoubtedly.
MALIK DIED HERE OF "KIDNEY FAILURE"
Excuse me.
Are you Paul Bayzelon?
Malik was my brother.
So sorry about your brother.
I didn't mean to bother you.
I just wanted to talk a while.
I told the police everything.
I know that, yeah. Thanks for that.
I, uh-- I have a quick question.
Did Malik say anything to you, uh, before he passed?
No.
There wasn't time.
Also, uh, I wanted to know, did he…
Was he dressed up or…
Because a few hours earlier, I went past his house.
We had planned to eat at my mother's.
He didn't wanna go.
He was dressed up to the nines.
He put a tie on.
I teased him a little.
He got kind of upset. He was mad at me.
I, mean, well, I thought he was.
Well, could you say…
if he was wearing a tie or not?
Listen, I don't…
remember much.
It was dark, I mean…
So sorry.
Malik Oussekine, 22 years old: He wanted a job, fast
"I hope you're doing well where you're living.
Hope you didn't hurt anything skiing."
"Mom told me you would write more if she learned to read.
It won't be easy, but please write to us."
"Or is it too hard to lift your pen now?
Please send us some news, big sister.
-Hugs from us all…"
You okay?
Mm-hmm.
It's a bad idea to be unearthing all these things.
Sarah?
For your peace of mind.
You knew it.
What?
The day Malik died,
when they found him by the building,
did you know he was dead?
But you kept quiet…
for my peace of mind.
I'm sorry, Sarah.
You know how I found out?
From a voice on the phone
saying these words…
"One less rat."
That's how I was informed my brother had been killed.
So now when it comes to what's best for me,
I prefer to decide on my own.
-Hello?
Hey, Romain. How are you? What's happening?
Hey, I've been trying to reach you for two days, Mo.
I know things are complicated for you now, okay?
But-- But it sucks for us too.
-Our clients are all leaving us. -What do you mean?
I mean, they're dropping us, one after the other.
They're switching to other suppliers since this business began.
-I mean, I don't know what to do anymore.
Well, uh, call them back, eh? We just call each of them back and try--
No! I've tried that already, okay? They all said the same thing.
What?
Uh, well, they, uh…
-Romain, what are they saying? -They're freaking out, Mohamed!
I'm not sure, but I get the idea that they were threatened,
or they were told that if they keep working with you, they'll be in deep shit.
Deep shit?
Listen, try calling the laundries in Asnières and Amiens.
Try talking to them face-to-face, reassure them,
because I don't know what to do.
I can't deal with this anymore. It's overwhelming and exhausting.
-I can't keep doing this.
Sorry, but there's nothing more I can say, I just…
Hey, I'm about to be cut off. I'm out of change.
Do you hear what I said? Mohamed, I'm trying to tell you that--
"I'm a mother like you, and I share your pain.
I wish you courage and strength.
I hope justice will be done, and you will find peace.
I know that your mourning will be difficult.
You and your children are in my thoughts.
Yesterday, I went to 20 Monsieur-le-Prince
with my children to leave flowers in memory of your son, Malik."
Hey.
I'll go and change.
Mohamed, what is in that envelope?
Nothing.
Sarah.
The left's lies THE SETUP
What is it? Is that us?
No, Mom. It's nothing. Sarah, please.
-What does it say? -Nothing important.
This country has to get rid of your entire family of criminals
Sarah.
I saw your sister's face changing.
-Sarah! Tell me what. -It's nothing, Mom. I promise.
What is that?
-Nothing! -It's shit!
Right, it's shit!
OUSSEKINE CASE Mohammed, head of the family
-What's this nonsense? -So what is it?
You read it?
I just spoke to the lawyers about suing for defamation.
-It's coming off the shelves. -And you said nothing?
I haven't had the time, okay?
So, it's falsified?
Did you just ask that?
Of course it's falsified!
Read it to me right now.
Just because I can't read doesn't make me stupid!
Ben Amar, read for me.
"Mohamed, head of the family, a very strange person.
This Oussekine travels around the world as a specialist of global finance.
He's surely one of the few immigrants who puts up anti-racist posters
-while wearing cashmere." -There's no need to suffer through this.
It's just to smear me, Mom. It's nothing.
It's not about only you, Mohamed.
Go on.
"The litter.
The Oussekine litter meets at the home of their mother Aïcha most weekends,
much like any French family."
Okay, that's enough.
What's this word, "litter"?
-It's just a way…
It's puppies, Mom.
And that means that they called us dogs.
-You've said enough, Sarah. -What? Don't you hear her?
She wants the truth. We can't keep on protecting her.
She wants to understand.
-Isn't that true? -Sarah, please.
Mom, the truth is, there are people who are angry because we want justice.
And they'll do anything they can to stop us.
The same ones who pissed on the doorstep and the same ones who wrote this junk
-and the same ones who assaulted Fatna. -Shut your mouth!
Fatna?
-What happened to Fatna? -Nothing.
Sarah!
Sarah…
Sarah? Sarah!
Listen, please.
Just talk to me. What's the matter?
What's the matter?
I am sick of you making all the decisions on your own.
And I'm sick of being quiet.
Can't be my dad or the big boss of us all.
Okay. What's this about?
Talk to me.
You don't think I see the looks you give Kiejman when I speak up?
But you're always so hostile, Sarah.
I feel like maybe you don't see how lucky we are to have him.
"Hostile"? Just because I want those people in jail?
And the complaint? Yesterday, you told Fatna to stay quiet.
Now, you file a complaint without informing us?
But you know what I've been going through lately over this.
Because I have to save my business before it's too late.
Or we'll end up with nothing. That clear?
You understand?
I'm doing all of this for you, Sarah!
Everything I've done, it's all been for you!
Well, I hope you're fine with the results.
SEPTEMBER 16, 1977
Everything okay?
Get me a little water.
Uh, sorry.
It's all right.
You been keeping busy?
I'm out of things to read.
The time doesn't exactly speed by.
And it smells like sheep here too.
Malik.
My boy king.
But Dad?
Yes?
I'd rather be living in France.
Don't worry, Son.
Very soon, you will go there.
You'll go back with Mohamed.
And you?
I'm staying here.
Mohamed?
You're responsible for the family.
You're the boss, the head of the family.
Eh?
And you, little Malik.
You listen to your big brother, okay?
Stay together for me.
The family is most important, Son.
Get him!
Sir!
Excuse me!
Please, sir!
Please, please! Sir, help! Open the door!
-Help, please!
Open the door, will you, please?
Sir, will you please let me in?
Open the door.
The lobby is too narrow,
so we'll remain outside while observing what happened.
All right, Mr. Bayzelon.
Uh, explain to me where you were
and how you found Sergeant Schmitt's weapon.
-Um… -Step back now, please.
Okay, uh, the gun was there, right next to Malik.
I picked up the gun,
and I was gonna call the police from my apartment
-and ask them to come retrieve it. -Excuse me, my name is Garaud.
I represent Officer Schmitt.
He is certain he never entered the building at all.
How do you explain how it happens his gun was found inside?
In reality, you picked it up off the sidewalk
where Sergeant Schmitt dropped it after he skidded out--
Hold on. This is a reconstruction, not a game show on TV.
So please refrain from interrupting as a--
Precisely. We're supposed to get to the bottom of what occurred,
and I'm pointing out that this witness has been inconsistent.
Speaking of inconsistencies,
I see a much larger one in Sergeant Schmitt's version.
He says he fell off his motorcycle
at the corner of rue Racine and rue Monsieur-le-Prince.
And shouldn't he logically have looked for his gun near where he fell,
instead of inside a building down the block?
-Right. -This isn't a game show.
Isn't that what you just said?
Assuming that Schmitt had simply lost his weapon--
Brigade Sergeant Schmitt!
Assuming that the sergeant happened to lose the weapon after his fall,
as he would have us believe.
Come with me. Pardon me.
-Excuse me. -Oh, certainly. After you.
Close the door for a minute.
We can agree that it was impossible for Mr. Bayzelon
to see anything on the outside.
So, to spot a gun on the sidewalk…
Come with me. The door, please.
Excuse me. May I?
Pardon me.
What are you doing?
Trying to see how the gun might have jumped the curb and got into the building.
But as you see, it just can't be done.
That's because the gun was in the building when it was found,
which is all the confirmation we need that Sergeant Schmitt did go inside.
Your Honor, if Sergeant Schmitt hung onto his weapon,
even when wiping out on his motorcycle,
then you can imagine how viciously he worked at beating on Malik.
All right, Mr. Bayzelon, you may finish the demonstration.
So, as I was saying, I was gonna go home and--
At what point did you use the weapon to threaten Giorgi?
You kidding me here?
-If we consider the testimony-- -I will not abide these accusations!
Excuse me, hold on.
If Giorgi's statement is correct,
obviously Mr. Bayzelon's version can't be true.
Position him facing Officer Giorgi, and you'll see just what I mean.
-Oh, my God.
All right, then. Officer Giorgi, come here.
Go search for the weapon. Demonstrate.
-So when I arrived, he was turned around.
He turned around and aimed his weapon directly at me as if to shoot.
-So I disarmed him by grabbing his wrist.
Ah, give me a break! That-- That's impossible!
Complete and total fabrication. We both know you're lying.
-Listen, Mr. Jeannin-- -This reconstruction is a joke!
And I refuse to participate one second more.
-Pardon me.
-Can't someone go after him? -I'll go.
Mr. Bayzelon, please. You're falling into their trap.
This is a disgrace!
Find me a stand-in for Mr. Bayzelon!
Step back.
A stand-in?
Okay, you can be our witness. Continue, Officer Giorgi.
Like I said, he had his back turned,
and then he turned around and pointed the gun at me,
-and I thought he was gonna shoot. -Mm-hmm.
-So I grabbed his arm and disarmed him. -Mm-hmm.
Then I came back outside with the weapon.
So you say you disarmed Mr. Bayzelon to keep…
He won't come back.
-Is that right? -Yes, sir.
He was a danger to you as well as everyone else.
That was your duty as an officer of the law,
is that correct, Officer Giorgi?
And the weapon, what about the weapon?
What became of the weapon after you disarmed Mr. Bayzelon?
ONE YEAR LATER
Do you like it there?
It's all right. It's not far.
As soon as you leave to go there with your mom? Yeah?
We can have our own place there, just us.
It will be nice.
One set of keys,
a credit card, ID card,
a watch…
a Bible, a comb,
70 francs.
That doesn't belong to Malik.
All these things are his, ma'am.
Sign here, please.
OUSSEKINE CASE
You okay, Mom?
Mm-hmm.
So, glad we're all going to Fatna's?
Mmm.
It's been a long time since I've seen my children all together.
She's hungry.
We'll be there soon.
I have to say my prayer, also.
Oh, you were so hungry, my little girl.
Who's Mommy's sweetest little girl?
-Who's my sweet girl? -It's me.
Good evening, everyone.
We're now in the second round of presidential elections.
Less than nine minutes from now,
we'll be showing you, right here on this program, the face of the newly…
Here. It's not bad. You'll see.
We've arranged with Europe 1 and Paris Match
to set up this system to inform you of the results…
-as soon as possible. -All right, Mom?
You sure you don't want some juice or anything to drink?
No thank you, my dear.
I'm all right.
Aïcha, please try to relax.
-Thank you, Jean-Louis. You are so kind.
…and all throughout Africa and more than 20 countries.
Where's your boyfriend? Why isn't he here?
Ah, so you're interested now?
He's on election duty.
Actually, Ben, did you vote already?
-I told you I prefer you call me Amar. -Oh, that's right.
Guess he never mentioned that he used to go by the name Ben.
From when he used to party in the clubs.
He wasn't spending much time at the mosque.
-Come on. We can laugh, right? -Only you laugh at those things.
Okay, Amar?
Who'd you vote for anyway?
I didn't vote. I lost my registration.
-Not a bad excuse. -What excuse?
-You're gonna get scolded. -I didn't vote.
You didn't vote?
I told you this was important.
The election of Mitterrand is our last chance for due process.
We voted at the community school.
Everyone around here votes Communist, just so you know.
Between Uncle Francois and Chichi, they just stay home.
-You call him Chichi? -Stop!
I should remind you that with Chirac, there is Pasqua and Pandraud?
The one's we've been up against for two years!
Let me take her.
No, that's all right. I can hold her a little bit more.
So, would you say Mitterrand is better?
It's odd because back then you weren't big on socialists.
Stop it. That's enough.
Mitterrand came in person to express condolences to Mom.
He didn't have to do that! He was sincere.
His little circus for the cameras after, was that sincere as well?
Stop. Not everyone is that cynical.
Well, you're the ones acting naive.
He was using us and Mom and Malik.
If he gets reelected tonight then he should thank Malik.
My father always said, "Families should avoid two subjects.
That's politics and religion."
Anyone hungry? Time to eat. Come on.
Must be tiring lecturing everybody constantly.
We're with Mom every day.
I was always there her side.
Mohamed did everything for her to make sure Malik could do as he pleased
and you could as well.
What did you do, huh? What?
-I'll put her to bed. -Me?
Exactly. You have no idea how much I've done.
And now you're defending Momo?
I'll be back.
After you talk about him behind his back? Asshole.
Maybe that's religion. It affects your memory.
Just stop it, Sarah.
You're full of shit.
You don't know what you're saying.
Oh, and you do?
You have no idea what I've had to go through.
-Apparently, you live in another world.
All right, Sarah, that's enough. That's it.
Just stop lecturing everyone.
You wanna talk about contradictions?
Like that cop you live with?
Fatna, there's a strange noise outside.
Don't be worried, Mama.
There's gonna be noises. We're in the country.
Come sit. We're having dinner now.
Well, at least I'm not using anything as a shield, unlike some of you.
Oh, come on! Tell me. Where's my shield, huh?
You can see everybody's problems, sure, except your own, Sarah!
Stop! Stop! Stop!
I wanted all of us to come together tonight.
All of us gathered around Mom.
Would you look at her! Don't you see how this is affecting her?
I never thought I could accept so much out of love of my children.
My God, I didn't think it was possible.
I can accept you as you are.
You each have your own way of living.
Not what I wanted it to be.
That makes no difference.
Such is the heart of a mother.
You are my children.
I love you the same.
If I'm willing to live with this,
why can't you do the same for each other?
Tell me why?
Look what you've done to her.
-Can't you all just-- -Wait. What was that?
-What is it? -What?
Something's burning. Fire!
-Out! Everyone out! Quickly! -Rania!
-Hurry up! Mom! -Rania!
-Mom, come quick! -Everyone outside! Fire!
-Hurry up! -Go, go!
Get out, everyone!
-Where's Amar? Amar!
-Go, go, go! -Jean-Louis! Jean-Louis!
-Amar! -I'm here. I'm right here.
-Has anyone seen Jean-Louis? -He's right here!
Okay, he's here!
I called the fire department.
Oh, shit! I don't believe this.
-Yeah, okay? -What did they do?
FRANCE FOR THE FRENCH
We'll find out in the news up next.
Five, four, three, two, one.
Here is the face of the next president of the Republic of France.
François Mitterrand is reelected with 53.9% of the vote.
-Sir. -Hello.
Hello.
Mr. Garaud!
Thank you for coming in.
Sorry, but I can't ask you to sit down.
These men on the left won't even lower themselves to sit
in the same chairs we do.
It has to be modern. Like Prouvé or Perriand or Starck.
Every syllable of what you said went over my head.
Mmm.
The socialists think they're too good to sit in Louis XV chairs.
It seems to weigh on their conscience.
You know, I really hate them.
Especially the ones of the silver spoon variety.
You know the ones,
who live on family money but give you lessons on morality.
Hmm. You won't be forgotten.
Come now, Garaud. None of that.
Tell me what's going on with Oussekine.
With the left in power, a trial is almost inevitable, I'd say.
Sure, yeah, but what else?
There is no more. Nothing in the file.
It's all about Kiejman.
Kiejman…
Funny you should mention his name.
I'll read you this quote I just saw about him.
Listen to this.
"This bald and slightly hunched over man can stare
with hard, black eyes that look straight through you.
A stylish lawyer, he has an unbearable self-assurance,
and yet he is deathly afraid that no one will love him."
Hmm. Nicely turned.
Not by me. It's Henri Nallet.
Socialist.
Not all leftists are bad.
Listen now, Garaud.
It's crucial for me to continue to protect this institution.
It's unbearable to imagine my men getting fed to the lions,
treated like mere criminals.
Don't worry about that. They won't be convicted.
They're not culpable, and it won't happen.
Very good.
-Hello. -Hello.
Didn't Ben Amar and Sarah come with you?
Um, no.
Sit down, Mohamed, won't you, please.
There's a development, and it's a positive thing.
Two developments. May I?
Mohamed, we won the case of libel against the magazine, Minute.
You and your family have been awarded 60,000 francs in damages.
My thanks.
Too bad your brother and sisters couldn't be here today.
Mohamed,
the trial will proceed.
The two police officers who killed Malik will face charges.
And the third one?
I'm sorry, but there isn't any proof against him, Mohamed.
The only thing we know for certain is that he went to search for the weapon.
Believe me, Mohamed. We have come a long way.
It exceeds expectations
that these two policemen would face these battery charges.
Mohamed, it's not a victory. Far from it.
But for you and your family,
it's a step toward recognizing what happened to Malik.
Between now and the trial, I want you and your family to save your strength.
You're gonna need it.
How are you?
What's wrong?
What?
It's over, Yann.
-W-What do you mean? -It's over.
You need to get your things and leave the apartment right away.
Are you joking with me?
Hang on. Tell me what I did wrong.
Nothing.
You didn't do anything, but that's the problem.
Sarah…
After my brother died, you said you'd quit the police,
that that job wasn't for you.
You looked me in the eye and gave your word.
Do you think it's as simple as that?
-To go and find myself a new career? -But you haven't even looked.
You're not stupid. There's plenty of stuff you could do.
The truth is, you like being a cop.
I can't be with a cop. I've tried everything.
I can't. It's impossible.
So, I have to make a choice, is that it?
Either you or my job?
No.
This is the choice that I'm making.
Leave your keys in the mail slot, please.
Sarah.
Give me a chance. Sarah, please!
Let's not make this decision so fast.
Oh, I'm not making a fast decision.
You and I have nothing in common.
We can't be together. We have nothing in common.
Sarah, please. Sarah!
Such a good girl.
There.
That's good.
Oh, careful, careful.
There you go. Such a sweet baby girl.
Warm bath.
Perfect. Yeah.
OCTOBER 21, 1978
And now, the helmet.
"Schmitt. Garcia."
Batons.
"Schmitt. Garcia."
SCHMITT AND GARCIA
Open the door, please! Open up, I beg you!
Mister, can you open it? I'm begging you! Open it, please! Please!