Challenging the Years

12 DAYS
12 JOURS

• Director: Raymond Depardon
• FRANCE / 2017 / DCP / Colour / 87´ / French; Turkish, English s.t.

• Director of Photography: Raymond Depardon
• Editing: Simon Jacquet
• Music: Alexandre Desplat
• Producer: Claudine Nougaret
• Production Co.: Palmeraie et Désert
• World Sales: Wild Bunch

Premiered at a special screening at Cannes 12 Days looks at the decisions judges make and the following results at the junction of psychiatry and justice. By French law, anyone admitted to the hospital without their consent must be seen by a judge within 12 days. The decision of the judge will determine the fate of psychiatric patients. Journalist, photographer, master documentarian Raymond Depardon shines a controversial light on the French judicial system as he examines the effects of bureaucracy and institutions on the individual. 12 Days thoroughly documents the aspects of “insanity”, a condition that is effectively captured in very few films throughout the history of cinema; and thus becomes the voice of those who don’t have one.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.