This is one of the series of events at the start of autumn: A suspiciondivided into only four episodes and broadcast from October 16, 2024 on France 2recounts a news item that occurred in the Provençal countryside.
The husband of Isabelle Dubreuil, played by Odile Vuillemin, is found dead in his burned car. His wife quickly becomes, in the eyes of the police, suspect number 1.
“Crime is the ultimate prohibition”
The author of this mini-series, Franck Ollivier, wanted to tackle an almost mythical thriller subject, that of the “black widow”.
This series is reminiscent of a news item that occurred in Isère, when Manuela Gonzalez was convicted in 2014 for the murder of her husband. Is this a direct inspiration?
Franck Ollivier : “It’s a news item that was one of my sources of inspiration, yes, but the idea was a little broader. It’s while working on my novel The Shadowfor which I studied many news items, which is a bit my daily bread, that the idea of black widow [femme ayant assassiné son époux] came to me. It is a fairly widespread genre in criminology, in the United States as in France. »
Why did you choose this theme?
“This allows us to explore a female role that is a little different from what we generally see, where women are often presented as victims or very “pure” characters. There, there was an ambiguity, contradictions, a darkness, which interested me. A character that could be made endearing and at the same time monstrous.
“This is what struck me when I watched documentaries on the case of the “black widow of Isère”: everyone described her as endearing, joyful, far from the story at hand. the old poisoner type of husband. »
In an era influenced by “MeToo”, where we shine the light on women who are attacked, isn’t it a bit against the grain to have chosen a woman who kills her husbands?
“These are things that exist, although they are in the minority. It is clear that there is no question of reversing perspectives. Femicides are a tragic, overwhelming reality that must be fought. But there are also other cases, interesting to tell. »
The title of the series is aptly named, with suspicion being maintained, on the viewer’s side, during these four episodes. In your opinion, is Isabelle Dubreuil guilty?
“For me, yes, she is guilty. In life, what determines guilt is the verdict. When we are convicted, we are guilty. This is something very strong, which we must accept. Even if, sometimes, we never really know, due to lack of material evidence. »
How was the choice of Odile Vuillemin made for the character of Isabelle?
“It was the producer Richard Berkowitz who met her by chance at the La Rochelle festival. I think she’s great and she brought a lot to the character, from her first readings of the script. In my opinion, she is one of those actresses who not only plays a role, she brings a vision. »
How do you explain the fascination with news items?
“For me, it’s rather cathartic: crime is the ultimate prohibition. Knowing that people are transgressing this prohibition generates curiosity. But I don’t find it morbid or unhealthy. There is a kind of fascination, yes, but to understand why we take action. Especially when the crime is planned. This is the very idea of black literature: getting into the head of the bad guy. »
“A suspicion”, a series in four episodes broadcast from October 9 in full on france.tv and from October 16 at 9:05 p.m. on France 2.
“The black widow of Isère”, an emblematic news item
Among the inspirations for this mini-series, there is the trial of the “black widow of Isère”, Manuela Gonzalez, sentenced in 2014, at first instance, to thirty years of criminal imprisonment for the murder of her husband, including the body was found in his burned car. After an appeal, a cassation appeal and an appeal before the European Court of Human Rights, his conviction was confirmed, despite the absence of “clear evidence”in the words of his lawyer.
Her trial brings to light previous facts for which she was never worried: three of her former husbands died and two narrowly escaped after being poisoned. In all of these cases, Manuela Gonzalez has always maintained her innocence.
