As you walk on Rideau Street bracing the cold wind, you admire the bright lights of the Bytowne Cinema which remind you of all the good memories forged inside. Strolling inside the cinema as the flock of cinéphiles exit from the previous movie, you find a cozy chair after removing your winter coat and accessories. You sink into your seat and start nibbling on some popcorn or soft candy, eagerly waiting for the red curtain to rise.
After a brief speech by Erika Denis, the audiovisual attaché at the French Embassy in Ottawa, about the Diverciné Film Festival, the movie Omar m’a tuer (Omar Killed Me) starring Sami Bouajila and Denis Podalydès begins. This isn’t the simple story of a murder gone wrong, but a deeper look at the problems related to the French justice system and the difficulty of integrating immigrants into French society.
Roschdy Zem, a French actor and producer from Moroccan descent, tells the story of Omar Raddad, a Moroccan gardener accused of a crime in 1991. Omar’s story became famous in France, as his case received tremendous media attention.
Omar’s nightmare begins when police find the beaten and lifeless body of 65-year-old Ghislaine Marchal in the basement of her villa. Near the stabbed corpse is the famous message in blood: Omar m’a tuer (Omar killed me). For those who pick it up the grammar mistake, good for you. The police immediately intercept the Moroccan immigrant accused of killing his employer, a rich widow. Omar, who barely speaks French, pleads his innocence from the beginning and still does today, about 20 years later.
Omar isn’t the only person who believes in his innocence. The writer Pierre-Emmanuel Vaugrenard (played by Denis Podalydès) is also convinced of Omar’s guiltlessness and launches his own investigation. He travels to the scene of the crime in the south of France and becomes the voice of the illiterate gardener. Vaugrenard recreates the events surrounding the crime, helping the audience reach its own judgment. To finish his book, the writer delves into the weakness of the prosecutors’ accusations and Omar’s defense that resulted in his imprisonment. While Omar is stuck in prison, unable to seek out the reason he is incarcerated, the movie continues to objectively examine his case as he protests his 18-year sentence with a famine.
The movie beautifully portrays the turbulent and frustrating life of the green-thumped man broken by the justice system. The actor Sami Bouajila, who plays Omar honestly, confronts the spectator with authentic and strong emotions. A salty discharge might even run down your cheek during certain scenes, but not in my case! In the end, you feel for this vulnerable man flouted by the flawed justice system.
This admirable movie is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with this twisted story which left a mark on France and in my memory.
The Diverciné Film Festival continues at the ByTowne Theatre (325 Rideau Street) until Sunday March 11, 2012.
