look back at the true story that inspired the film

Released on March 9, 2022, Goliath is a drama carried by Pierre Niney, Gilles Lellouche and Emmanuelle Bercot. It follows an activist against the use of pesticides, a lawyer specializing in environmental law, and a lobbyist for an agrochemical giant, who come into contact after the radical act of an anonymous person. The feature film directed by Frédéric Tellier is inspired by a true story, that of the glyphosate scandal, a pesticide renamed in the film under the name “tetrazine”.

Glyphosate is a chemical found in herbicides that helps eliminate unwanted plants. It is not only effective, but above all inexpensive, which explains why many farmers have been able to use it. However, it is a controversial product accused of being toxic to the environment and responsible for health problems. Although the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a “probable carcinogen” in 2015, it was nevertheless authorized by the European Union until December 2022.

Director Frédéric Tellier has investigated phytosanitary scandals and glyphosate for more than five years, an environment he describes as “very opaque”. He thus explains in the press kit that “p“There are many books that talk about the lobbies, and very few agrochemical lobbyists, so-called committed politicians or specialized journalists agree to tell the story, to testify.” By cross-checking testimonies, however, he manages to write the scenario and gives birth to this thriller!

Synopsis – France, sports teacher by day, worker by night, actively campaigns against the use of pesticides. Patrick, an obscure and solitary Parisian lawyer, is a specialist in environmental law. Mathias, a brilliant lobbyist and a man in a hurry, defends the interests of an agrochemical giant. Following the radical act of an anonymous person, these three destinies, which should never have crossed paths, will jostle, collide and burst into flames.