Human, Monster, Mother: The woman who killed her 15-month-old baby girl

A woman killed her 15-month-old daughter. She confessed to the crime for which she is now being tried.

These are the bare facts on which the Venice Jury Prize-winning French film is based “Saint Omer” based, which is now showing in cinemas. Alice Diop’s work is inspired by the true case of Fabienne Kabou, who drowned her daughter in the sea in 2013.

The roar in the tabloids of the sensational press will probably resonate to this day. Diop answers the outcry that such a taboo and law-breaking entails in a clever, level-headed way – she ignores it.

“Saint Omer” is a quiet, sober, never wooden film, freed from any hysteria about the singularity, which has a deep impact in a world in which almost only men are known as murderers. Elaborate art house cinema combines with clear court drama when the accused Laurence (Guslagie Malanda) and literati Rama (Kayije Kagame) are shown, who are researching for their book. One eloquent, educated, not at all like you imagine a child murderess, the other taciturn and mute, but telling stories with eyes of oppressive fear, triggered by the question that becomes more urgent than the question of why: Could I also act like that ? The film does not provide clear answers. Only the image of a female biography that emerges in powerful dialogues. They were shaped by racism, migration, invisibility, misogyny, poverty and mental illness.

The latter would have needed more emphasis. Nevertheless, this film about a black Medea – after the mythological figure who killed her sons – will be remembered for a long time thanks to its complexity.

“Saint Omer”: F 2022, 122 min., Director: Alice Diop

OÖN rating: five out of six stars