Terror's Advocate

Communist, anti-colonialist, right-wing extremist?

What convictions guide the moral mind of Jacques Vergès? Barbet Schroeder takes us down history’s darkest paths in his attempt to illuminate the mystery behind this enigmatic figure. As a young lawyer during the Algerian war, Vergès espoused the anti-colonialist cause and defended Djamila Bouhired, ‘la Pasionaria’, who bore her country’s hopes for freedom on her shoulders and was sentenced to death for planting bombs in cafes. He obtained her release, married her and had two children with her.

Then suddenly, at the height of an illustrious career, Vergès disappeared without trace for eight years. He re-emerged from his mysterious absence, taking on the defense of terrorists of all kinds, from Magdalena Kopp and Anis Naccache to Carlos the Jackal. He represented Historical monsters such as Nazi lieutenant Klaus Barbie. From the lawyer’s Inflammatory and provocative cases to his controversial terrorist links, Barbet Schroeder follows the winding trail left by this ‘devil’s advocate’, as he forges his unique path in law and politics.

The filmmaker explores and questions the history of ‘blind terrorism’ and leads us towards shocking revelations that expose long-hidden links in history.

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Release Dates:
@Theaters: October 12, 2007
@DVD/Video:
Genre: Art, Foreign and Documentary
Running Time: 138 min.
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Writer(s):
Prosper Keating

Producer(s):
Rita Dagher - Producer
Vincent Maraval - Producer
Brahim Chioua - Co-Producer

Movie Casts:
Jacques Vergès - Himself
Klaus Barbie - Himself (archive footage)
Abderrahmane Benhamida - Himself
Bachir Boumaâza - Himself
Isabelle Coutant-Peyre - Herself
Guillaume Durand - Himself (archive footage)
Lionel Duroy - Himself
Hans-Joachim Klein - Himself
Magdalena Kopp - Herself
Gilles Menage - Himself (as Gilles Ménage)
Anis Naccache - Himself
Barbet Schroeder - Récitant / Narrator (voice)
Siné - Himself
Martine Tigrane - Herself