The Poisoner

2006 3h 7m FR

🙌

7.6

BANGER

★7.6TMDB · 14

DramaTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Loudun, October 1947. Leon Besnard and Marie celebrate their eighteenth wedding anniversary with friends and Ady, a former German prisoner they have "adopted". A few days later, Leon dies. Louise, a friend of the couple's and probably Leon's mistress claims that, on his deathbed, the deceased told her that Marie was poisoning him. The whole town soon condemns Marie and she is arrested and sent to jail. Did she really kill Léon as well as twelve other members of her family as she finds herself charged with?

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Muriel Robin
Marie Besnard
Mélanie Bernier
Simone Roulier
Jean-Yves Chatelais
Léon Besnard
Mado Maurin
Marie-Louise Davaillaud
Frank Geney
Ady
Annie Grégorio
Louise Pinson
Olivier Saladin
Auguste Leclerc
Gérard Chaillou
Bodin

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Christian Faure
Writers: Olga Vincent, Daniel Riche
Languages: French
Countries: France, Belgium

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

At 187 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 20 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, Belgium.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Christian Faure, shot by Willy Stassen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Charles Court. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jean-Daniel Fernandez-Qundez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Muriel Robin and Mélanie Bernier and Jean-Yves Chatelais carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0851421 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Christian Faure directs. Willy Stassen behind the camera. Charles Court scores. Jean-Daniel Fernandez-Qundez cuts. A long sit — settle in. Produced in France, Belgium. Dialogue in French.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1At 187 minutes, this is a three-hour-plus commitment — longer than 95% of films ever made.
2Released 20 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: France, Belgium.
4Directed by Christian Faure, shot by Willy Stassen. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Charles Court. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Jean-Daniel Fernandez-Qundez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Muriel Robin and Mélanie Bernier and Jean-Yves Chatelais carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0851421 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 14 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.