Goliath (2022)

Patrick (Gilles Lellouche) is an independent lawyer working in Paris. He represents Lucie (Chloé Stefani), a young farmer, to prove that a pesticide—Tétrazine, a fictional product—was responsible for the recent death of Margot, her partner. Mathias Rozen (Pierre Niney) is a brilliant young lobbyist working for Phytosanis, a powerful agrochemical company that produces Tétrazine, among other products, and is determined to secure an extension of its authorization to be sold on the European market. France (Emmanuelle Bercot), a militant factory worker, is an activist in an anti-pesticide collective, denouncing, among other things, Tétrazine’s carcinogenic effects. Her husband, Zef (Yannick Renier), has cancer, and she is convinced that their neighbor, who has used pesticides extensively for years in the fields around their home, is somehow responsible. Lucie’s lawsuit against Phytosanis is dismissed. Desperate but clear-eyed, she sets herself on fire at the foot of the La Défense tower where Phytosanis is based. Just before killing herself, she leaves her lawyer one final voicemail, announcing what she is about to do and explaining the reason for her fatal act. Despite the media attention, Mathias and his colleague Paul (Laurent Stocker) quickly defuse the tragedy, blaming Lucie’s psychological fragility and the general distress of farmers. Convinced that evidence exists of the pesticide’s harmful effects, Patrick tries to contact Vanec (Jacques Perrin), a discreet scientist who has worked for major agrochemical companies. He continues the fight alongside his client’s parents, who file a lawsuit against Phytosanis. Mathias and Paul take this very seriously. After trying to reach an “arrangement” with Patrick—which he vehemently refuses—they use every means at their disposal, from the media to ministerial circles, to secure the political support their mission requires. They make active use of trolls on social media to discredit Patrick, and even hire thugs to threaten him or assault his former partner, Audrey (Marie Gillain). Patrick manages to meet Vanec, who confirms all his suspicions but cannot help him, bound for life by the confidentiality clauses in his contracts. He sets Patrick’s investigation on the right track. Lucie’s parents withdraw their lawsuit after receiving financial compensation from Phytosanis. The fight seems lost, and, thanks to the maneuvering and influence of a member of the European Parliament working for the lobbying firm, the authorization is approved by Parliament. Patrick receives anonymously the evidence he had been hoping for: the industrialists have known about the dangers of their products for a long time, and the health scandal extends far beyond Tétrazine and even beyond pesticides alone. Patrick gives the documents to Agence France-Presse, which distributes them to media outlets around the world. Protests against Phytosanis erupt, and France, who takes an active part in them, is arrested by the police. A trial begins to convict the demonstrators, who are defended by Patrick. France goes on hunger strike. At her trial, France makes a statement from the witness stand condemning the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of people, and expressing her hope for a fairer, more humane world.