French thriller Sambre – Anatomy of a Crime premieres tonight on BBC Four with a double bill and the first episode introduces us to Christine, a hairdresser from the small northeastern French town of Mauberge. One autumn morning in 1988, Christine is brutally and violently sexually assaulted on her way to work.
Despite the trauma, she regains consciousness and, with the support of her sister, reports the incident to the local police. This powerful drama series is based on real events and looks at the nearly 30-year failure of police to identify a serial rapist whose crimes went unchecked for decades.
In the second episode, titled “Irene (The Judge),” we fast forward to 1996, where we meet young investigating judge Irene Dereux. She recognises that a case assigned to her shares striking similarities with others, leading her to suspect the presence of a serial rapist. Judge Dereux persistently urges the police to conduct a thorough investigation, emphasising the urgency to prevent more women from becoming victims.
In French with English subtitles.
Sambre – Anatomy of a Crime airs Saturday 31 August 2024, with the first episode at 9:00 PM and the second episode at 10:05 PM on BBC Four.
