Netflix Just Released Its Hardest-to-Watch Miniseries Yet (and It's Based on a True Story)

Summary

• This shocking story gripped France.
• But it didn't get much global attention.
• The show deals with dark subject matter, but does so sensitively.

It's a sad fact that humanity retains the capacity to inflict trauma on itself. So the world of TV must reflect that. Sometimes, that means facing up to hard truths and exploring stories we'd rather avoid, but they need to be told.

Netflix recently released a documentary miniseries that explores one such story from a small town in France. The four-part series follows a horrific case involving multiple accusations of horrific child abuse, an appeal and retrial, and questions about whether the French justice system is up to the task.

What's the series about?

More than 50 adults were accused of involvement in a massive pedophile ring, and 17 were brought to trial. Concerns were first raised when teachers witnessed strange sexual behavior among four children from the same family.

After initial investigations, it became clear that this was part of something much larger than any small-town police department could have imagined. The children's parents were identified as potential perpetrators, abusing their children and prostituting them to other abusers.

The case raised questions about French law, with the young magistrate, Fabrice Burgaud, coming in for considerable criticism for the way he handled the case. It also raised questions about the reliability of the accusers' testimony and whether it was right for them to testify behind closed doors.

The adults accused of involvement in the abuse were incarcerated for varying lengths of time before and after the trial. They were denied access to their children during this time, as you would expect. In the end, only 4 people were found guilty.

How does the series deal with its subject matter?

Quite well. There's no getting away from the horrific crimes that took place. And there's no way to hide the fact that it has raised serious questions about everything from how such activity can take place in a seemingly normal town to the ethics of investigating it.

Burgaud is not the only one facing criticism. The case has gained national notoriety, and at least one journalist is known to have knocked on doors in Outreau trying to get information.

When it comes to dealing with the allegations and evidence of abuse, the show is detailed but pragmatic. There's no attempt to sensationalize the story – but the dark truth is at the heart of the documentary and must be confronted.

At first, it's hard to believe that this is a real case. It seems too implausible that this could happen anywhere, let alone in a sleepy French village.

Is it a reliable version of events?

It certainly has a lot of first-hand accounts from people who were involved in the case. From that point of view, it presents itself as a solid piece of journalism that seeks to explore the horrific crime and the way it was handled by the authorities, rather than coming to its own conclusion.

Experts examine Burgaud's actions and discuss some of the ambiguous areas of law that this case has exposed.

Burgaud also appears in the documentary to tell his side of the story. Whether or not it's an accurate depiction of what really happened remains up for debate. But it's hard to imagine how the producers could have created a more authentic discussion of this dark episode in French history.

For those interested in the law and its mechanics, it's definitely a show worth watching – if you can get past the subject matter.