I decided to tape this movie because the TV guide said that it was Canadian (which means that it is French Canadian, usually), and it was about a prostitute blackmailing some corrupt High Court magistrates. French Canadian movies, or the two that I have seen, seem to be dark and gloomy and look at the pain of life: basically existentialist. Liste Noir began like that but finished on a very American note. One you come to the end of Liste Noir you realise that it is going to be a happy American ending and not an existentialist ending.Still, Liste Noir explores the corrupt side of human nature. The black side of this film seems to relate to the idea that everybody is corrupt and sinful. The film explores the powerful elite, the politicians and the judges. It is not the politicians that the film is interested in for people expect them to be corrupt, but rather the High Court judges, the people that have been entrusted with the morality of society. As they say at the beginning of the film, "a lawyer getting caught for prostitution is interesting, but the media loves it when a judge is caught." Liste Noir looks at the personal life of one High Court judge and how he deals with the revelation that all of his colleagues are in fact corrupt. He is pulled by loyalty to his friends and loyalty to the state in which he serves. His relationship with his wife is interesting also because we see that he passionately loves her, but is never able to be intimate with her for if they are not surrounded by people, they are being watched by their neighbours. This is very important towards the end of the movie and defines the character of this judge and why he does what he does.One must also remember that these are High Court judges and thus their record must be spotless. Even one count of soliciting a prostitute will mean that they are out of a job. Why do they go to prostitutes then? In my personal opinion it is for selfish satisfaction. They are being tempted by their sexual urges and whether they are married, single, or divorced, they go to this one prostitute. They don't realise that she is planning on holding them up to blackmail, but even so they know what they are doing is wrong so there is little sympathy on their part.What this movie shows is that all people are corrupt. These respected men, the pinnacle of society, are as corrupt as a lowly prostitute. The difference is that society trusts these men while they do not trust a prostitute. When a Judge condemns somebody he is right but when a prostitute condemns somebody then she is a liar. It is interesting how Christ welcomed the prostitutes yet rebuked the judges

a thriller which uses the visual medium to full effect without being overly gory - although the director does not shrink from shocking pictures when he feels they are justified. Depending upon whether you are a cynic or a believer in justice, you may or may not like the subject-matter: but the film forces you to think and may manage to surprise you (but saying how would be a spoiler!) The French-Canadian accents and dialect are of course of no interest to those who choose another language (my copy only had German and French soundtracks) but they add an extra touch of authenticity. All in all a worthwhile film to watch, even for those (like me!) who are not into violence (even part two of the "Lord of the Rings" was a little too bloodthirsty for me!)