Inspector Lavardin

After Cop au vin (1984), Inspector Jean Lavardin (Jean Poiret) is back on form to investigate the murder of a famous Catholic writer, whose widow happens to be Helen (Bernadette Lafont), a woman Lavardin once loved. Her teenage daughter from a first marriage seems to have something to hide and, as the inspector delves deeper into the case with his unorthodox methods, sharp wit, and cynical demeanor, he uncovers a tangled web of family secrets and lies. Among the cast are some of Chabrol’s favourite actors from his New Wave beginnings: Bernadette Lafont as languid, enigmatic Helen and Jean-Claude Brialy, her eccentric brother who is a keen collector of glass eyes. The film combines elements of crime, dark humor, and social satire, with Lavardin’s investigations revealing both the hidden moral decay of the community and the complexity of human nature.