Question 1

Which novel inspired the film and why did the filmmakers lack access to French legal archives?

Accepted Answer

The film is inspired by Hervé Villeré's novel 'L'Affaire de la Section Spéciale'. Neither the author nor the directors had access to French legal archives, relying exclusively on German records.

Question 2

What happened to Minister of the Interior Pierre Pucheu after his role in the Special Section affair?

Accepted Answer

Pierre Pucheu, Minister of the Interior for only 9 months from July 1941 to April 1942, was sentenced to death in March 1944 in Algiers by the French Resistance, partly due to his role in the Special Section affair.

Question 3

Are the names of the accused in the film real?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all the names of the accused are real, including Abraham Trzebrucki, André Bréchet, Émile Bastard, and Lucien Sampaix.

Question 4

Which festivals or awards recognized the film in 1975 and 1976?

Accepted Answer

The film was presented at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival and received recognition from the National Board of Review in 1975 and the Golden Globes (USA) in 1976.

Question 5

Who plays Minister of Justice Joseph Barthélémy in the film?

Accepted Answer

Louis Seigner plays Joseph Barthélémy, the Minister of Justice (garde des Sceaux).

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