The new film Belle (directed by Benoît Jacquot) isn’t a story about who did it — it’s about why society so readily decided who was to blame.
Don’t look for a killer — look for a motive for contempt
Pierre is a quiet mathematician living with his wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg) in provincial France. When a young woman named Belle dies in their home one night, he becomes the main (and only) suspect. He just happened to be there. He’s just… strange.
Silence becomes the evidence
Pierre isn’t aggressive, he doesn’t rebel or fight to prove his innocence. He stays silent. And that very silence makes him guilty in the eyes of everyone: friends, colleagues, students — even his own wife. The film seems to ask: is it even possible to remain innocent if you don’t look like you belong?
Why The Mysterious Murder of Belle is an anti-detective
The film offers no resolution. Because it’s not a detective story. It’s a disturbing observation of how society collectively invents a version of the truth that’s easier to accept. Much like Anatomy of a Fall, the mystery takes a backseat — what remains is psychological drama.
