is the award-winning film inspired by a true story?

To the hilt is a French drama written and directed by Xavier Legrand who previously signed the short film “Avant que de tout perd” which received numerous awards, notably at the Clermont-Ferrand Festival. It tells the story of a couple in the middle of a divorce, who are arguing about custody of their son, torn by his parents in shared custody.

To make the viewer aware of domestic violence, Xavier Legrand decided to put his viewer under tension in To the hilt. A successful bet since the film won four awards at the 2019 César Awards, including best film and best original screenplay. Because contrary to appearances, it is a fiction and not a drama inspired by a true story… At least in detail.

To the hilt is in fact based on the reality experienced by victims of domestic violence. The director did research with a family court judge, spoke with lawyers and police officers familiar with these issues, as well as groups of violent men. A quasi-documentary work in order to best serve the painful subject of the film. The Ministry of the Interior said it had recorded 271,000 victims of domestic violence in 2023, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year. 93 feminicides (and 319 attempts) were recorded in 2023. Since the start of the year, 117 feminicides have been recorded as of November 20, 2024.

In the cast, we find Denis Ménochet (“The Dancer”), Léa Drucker (“News from the planet Mars”), Jean-Claude Leguay (the TV series “La source”), Jean-Marie Winling (“Marseille”) and Florence Janas (“Trepalium”). During the 44th Cesar ceremony, To the hilt won four awards: best film, best actress for Léa Drucker, best original screenplay and best editing.

Synopsis -Miriam and Antoine are in the middle of a divorce. The mother accuses her husband of violence against her son, Julien, and demands sole custody. However, the family affairs judge decides by taking the father's side. The young boy finds himself torn between his parents in shared custody.