10TH DISTRICT COURT (France / 2004)
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*A 2006 U.S. Release* 

For his fascinating yet only intermittently engaging courtroom documentary, 10th District Court (10e chambre - Instants d'audience), French filmmaker Raymond Depardon was able to get special permission to override a 1985 law which prohibits the filming of French civil trials. Under judge Michle Bernard-Requin, Depardon proceeded to document 169 cases in the Parisian 10th District Courthouse during the three months he was granted, ultimately selecting parts of 12 for the film. Since the French judicial system does not require a jury, its the presiding judge who renders the verdict after directly questioning the parties involved. (The prosecuting and defense counsel are present to elucidate legal concerns, and to ultimately read their versions of the sentence in order to convince the judge.) 

With all due respect, a few of the cases depicted in 10th District Court are remarkably tepid and uninteresting: charges stemming from foul language, DUI, harassment cases are a constituent of civil courts all around the world. Perhaps not surprisingly, most of the "intriguing" cases involve minorities of North African and Middle Eastern descent. Needless to say, immigration matters are front and center. While Depardon should be credited for remaining as objective as possible throughout the proceedings (there are no voice-overs or title cards), by cutting between his two 16mm cameras installed in the courtroom, hes able to get certain reaction shots while at times even zooming in on the defendants. 

"I think I may have more issues with the judge than with the defendants," Depardon recently stated, which he has the right to. But since judge Bernard-Requin cant be summoned to explain her verdicts, the documentary might leave a false impression of her efficiency and reasoning of the law. Depardon would've been better off digging deeper into the laws themselves, instead of merely collaging why and how theyre applied.

Grade: C+
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*10TH DISTRICT COURT premiered at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. Now available in the U.S. on DVD (Koch Lorber Films).