The Sword and the Balance
A queer, a gigolo, and a brute—who could’ve done it?
Genres
Overview
Three young men are suspected of kidnapping and murdering a little boy. Most likely, two of them are really involved, but one is not. All of their pasts are questionable, riddled with violence and controversy. Neither the police nor the court can decide how to solve that puzzle.
Details
Budget
$0
Revenue
$0
Runtime
131 min
Release Date
1963-02-01
Status
Released
Original Language
French
Vote Count
12
Vote Average
7.6
Anthony Perkins
Johnny Parsons
Jean-Claude Brialy
Jean-Philippe
Renato Salvatori
François
Pascale Audret
Agnès
Jacques Monod
Commissioner
Marie Déa
Madame Winter
Horst Janson
Mac
Fernand Ledoux
Prosecutor
Maurice Chevit
Inspector
Anne Tonietti
Christine Prévost
Élina Labourdette
Simone Darbon
Henri Vilbert
Juror
Lou Bennett
Lou Bennett and Kenny Clark Jazz Combo
Paul Amiot
Man
Teddy Bilis
Juror
Charles Blavette
Claude Cerval
Plouzenec
Janine Darcey
Chantal
Michel Dacquin
Germaine Delbat
Widow Prévost
Gilberte Géniat
Lady from the jury
Gilbert Gil
Inspector Portal
Sophie Grimaldi
Brigitte
Camille Guérini
Judge Noblet
Robert Le Béal
Sophie Leclair
Diane Lepvrier
Marianne
Héléna Manson
Lady from the jury
Pierre Mirat
Juror
Maurice Nasil
Jean Ozenne
Art lover
Marcel Pérès
Juror
Agnès Rivière
Marie
Robert Rollis
Christian Bagot
René Pascal
Michel Bellamari
Jack Bérard
Charles Bondi
University roommate of J. Parsons
Charles Bouillaud
Inspector
Jean-Jacques Bourgeois
Gabriel Gobin
Albert, concierge of the Law Court
Horst Janson
Henri Lambert
Inspector
Mae Mercer
Bernard Musson
Claude Salez
Henri Garcin
(uncredited)
5.4
Pornomelancholia
Lalo is a sex influencer: he posts photos of his naked body and homemade porn videos for his thousands of social media followers. Lalo directs his own life, but in private, when out of character, he seems to live in constant melancholy.
2023-06-21 | es
8.1
Prayers for Bobby
Bobby Griffith was his mother's favorite son, the perfect all-American boy growing up under deeply religious influences in Walnut Creek, California. Bobby was also gay. Struggling with a conflict no one knew of, much less understood, Bobby finally came out to his family.
2009-01-24 | en
6.8
Freak Show
The story of teenager Billy Bloom who, despite attending an ultra conservative high school, makes the decision to run for homecoming queen.
2018-01-12 | en
6.3
The Cell
A psychotherapist journeys inside a comatose serial killer in the hopes of saving his latest victim.
2000-08-18 | en
5.0
10 Sekunden
Air traffic controller Markus Hofer is partly to blame for a collision between two airplanes in which 83 people lost their lives. Although the incident happened a year ago, he still blames himself, which his wife Franziska can only bear by having affairs. Erik Loth, on the other hand, is full of revenge, having lost his wife and daughter in the disaster and is now determined to kill the pilot responsible. Police officer Harald was on duty on the night of the accident and has been unable to get the images out of his head ever since. One evening, the television reports on the murder of Markus Hofer. Harald knows Erik, the man who killed him, and now thinks he sees him everywhere...
2008-10-02 | de
6.8
It's Hard Being Loved by Jerks
The murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh by an Islamic extremist in 2004, followed by the publishing of twelve satirical cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed that was commissioned for the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, provides the incendiary framework for Daniel Leconte's provocative documentary, It's Hard Being Loved by Jerks.
2008-09-17 | fr
7.0
Against the Law
United Kingdom, March 24, 1954. Ten years before the decriminalization of homosexuality, journalist Peter Wildeblood and his friends Lord Montagu and Michael Pitt-Rivers are convicted and imprisoned for indecency and sodomy.
2017-03-16 | en
0.5
Torrid Wave
A Hong Kong drama that explores the complexities of a same-sex relationship between two young escort women. Living openly and embracing their sexuality, they navigate their love without concern for societal judgment. However, their environment soon challenges their bond, introducing external influences that test their commitment to each other.
1982-09-03 | cn
6.6
May
A socially awkward veterinary assistant with a lazy eye and obsession with perfection descends into depravity after developing a crush on a boy with perfect hands.
2003-04-11 | en
6.0
Surveillance
An FBI agent tracks a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims - all of whom have wildly different stories to tell.
2008-02-08 | en
4.5
Derrick - Die Pflicht ruft!
Inspector Stephan Derrick has made it: the crime rate in Munich has fallen to the 0% mark. His prestige is high, and he even has his own elevator with a body-friendly entrance. However, the elimination competitions for the "European Song Contest" force an abortion of his trip to Lapland due to fatalities. The hit king Arno Hello, apparently a parody of Dieter Bohlen and Jürgen Drews, is determined to win the contest...
2004-04-01 | de
7.3
Beautiful Thing
Set during a long, hot summer on the Thamesmead Estate in Southeast London, where three teenagers edge towards adulthood.
1996-06-21 | en
6.5
Perfect Obedience
The fictional Father Ángel de la Cruz is based on Legion of Christ founder Marcial Maciel, whose long history of child abuse was not addressed until 2006 and only publicly acknowledged in 2009. But director Luis Urquiza chooses to structure his film through the largely uncomprehending, wondering eyes of 13-year-old Julián, who travels from the arms of his loving pastoral family into the austere, hallowed halls of the seminary. Singling out the boy as his intimate disciple, installing him in his palatial private quarters and redubbing him “Sacramento Santos,” Father Ángel begins Julian’s instruction into the mysteries of “perfect obedience,” whose cardinal rule is: Never question a superior’s actions.
2014-05-02 | es
6.4
7th Day
Even though crime branch officer David Abraham is on suspension, he engages himself in the investigation of a case which is not yet recorded in the crime records.
2014-04-12 | ml
7.1
Police Story 2
The Hong Kong super-cop must stop a group of blackmailing bombers at the same time that the villains of the first Police Story are out for revenge.
1988-08-13 | cn
7.4
Cabaret
Inside the Kit Kat Club of 1931 Berlin, starry-eyed singer Sally Bowles and an impish emcee sound the clarion call to decadent fun, while outside a certain political party grows into a brutal force.
1972-02-13 | en
6.6
Water Lilies
Set during a sultry summer in a French suburb, Marie is desperate to join the local pool's synchronized swimming team, but is her interest solely for the sake of sport or for a chance to get close to Floriane, the bad girl of the team? Sciamma, and the two leads, capture the uncertainty of teenage sexuality with a sympathetic eye in this delicate drama of the angst of coming-of-age.
2007-05-17 | fr
6.7
Moffie
A young man in 1981 South Africa must complete his brutal and racist two years of compulsory military service while desperately maintaining the secrecy of his homosexuality.
2020-03-13 | af
6.4
Rialto
Colm is in his mid-forties, married, with two teenage children. Still grieving the death of his father, a destructive figure in his life, Colm struggles with his relationship to his own son, whilst at work a recent takeover threatens his job. Unable to share his vulnerability with his wife, Colm’s world is falling apart around him. In the midst of this crisis, Colm finds a comfort that no one else can provide but Jay.
2020-05-08 | en
6.0
Carmín tropical
Mabel travels to her hometown to find the murderer of her friend Daniela. A journey through nostalgia, love and betrayal in a place where transgenderism once took on an unusual dimension.
2014-10-16 | es