Film Review: The Crime on the Third Floor

France: 2026 Original Title: – Director: Rémi Bezançon Screenplay: Rémi Bezançon Cast: Laetitia Casta, Gilles Lellouche, Guillaume Gallienne Distributor: M6 Vidéo Duration: 1h40 Genre: Comedy Drama, Mystery Theatrical Release Date: March 11, 2026 DVD Release Date: July 9, 2026

Synopsis: Colette, a cinema professor specializing in Hitchcock's work, suspects her new neighbor across the street of having murdered his wife. Is this reality or just a professional distortion? Her husband, François, an author of somewhat outdated historical crime novels, is initially skeptical of Colette's obsession with this alleged crime. However, he soon gets drawn into this bizarre investigation, and as clues pile up and the mystery deepens, this ordinary couple transforms into an extraordinary detective duo. So, did a crime actually occur on the third floor?

The Film

Rating: [3.5/5]

Rémi Bezançon, known for his acclaimed work on The First Day of the Rest of Your Life in 2008, has taken a bold step with The Crime on the Third Floor, influenced by both Alfred Hitchcock and William Shakespeare. Critics have been harsh, particularly those who see Bezançon's film as a mere imitation of Hitchcock's classic Rear Window. Such criticism seems overly severe.

In The Crime on the Third Floor, Colette Courreau, a renowned cinema professor at the Sorbonne and an expert on Hitchcock, becomes engrossed in the lives of her neighbors, Yann and Nathalie Kerbec. She becomes convinced, and eventually persuades her husband François, that Yann, an actor playing Hamlet in a Paris theater, has killed his wife, who is deaf and owns the theater. Laetitia Casta effectively embodies the archetypal Hitchcock blonde, adding depth to her character.

However, it is more fitting to view Bezançon's work as a tribute to Hitchcock, Shakespeare, and Agatha Christie, reminiscent of the styles of celebrated directors like Jean-Paul Rappeneau and Philippe de Broca, whose cinematic molds seem to have cracked over time. Yet, The Crime on the Third Floor proves that this mold is not irreparably broken. The film is a humorous exploration of the couple's dynamics, focusing on Colette and François's relationship, which appears strained at the outset but improves as they embark on their investigation together. As noted in the film, looking into others' lives often reflects our own feelings of being overlooked. Perhaps Colette's initial suspicion stemmed from feeling unseen by her husband.

Bezançon also takes a risk by incorporating scenes from the novel that François is writing into the narrative. While this narrative twist does not achieve complete success, it does not detract from the overall experience. The cinematography by Pierre Cottereau is commendable, and the chemistry among the trio of Laetitia Casta, Gilles Lellouche, and Guillaume Gallienne is palpable, enhancing the audience's enjoyment.

The DVD

Rating: [3/5]

The DVD offers standard features, allowing viewers to watch the film with audio description or with subtitles for the hearing impaired. The image quality does justice to Pierre Cottereau's beautiful cinematography. However, there are no additional features or supplements included, which is a disappointment.