An Officer and a Spy

In 1894, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, is found guilty of passing military secrets to Germany. He is condemned and exiled to Devil's Island, sparking controversy due to the bias against his Jewish background. The trial and conviction become a symbol of injustice and anti-Semitism in France.

A year later, Georges Picquart, a former teacher of Dreyfus and now head of the secret service, notices irregularities in Dreyfus' case. Despite alleged anti-Semitic sentiments, Picquart suspects the trial was biased and starts to investigate the authenticity of the evidence.

Picquart uncovers that the document used to convict Dreyfus, known as the bordereau, was not written by him but by Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy. This discovery suggests that Esterhazy is the real spy and that Dreyfus was wrongfully accused.

Attempting to reopen Dreyfus' case and expose Esterhazy, Picquart encounters resistance from his superiors who fear scandal and the potential revelation of army corruption. Picquart is then relieved of his duties and sent away on a distant mission.

Despite being removed, Picquart returns secretly and informs lawyer Louis Leblois about the miscarriage of justice. Together, they establish a committee involving politicians and intellectuals to seek Dreyfus' rehabilitation, gaining momentum with public support.

Writer Émile Zola publishes the famous open letter "J'accuse" in the newspaper L'Aurore, vehemently criticizing the army's cover-up and exposing the flaws in Dreyfus' trial. Zola's act sparks a nationwide debate on justice and anti-Semitism.

Following the publication, Zola is tried for defamation and sentenced to a year in prison after false testimonies are revealed. The country remains divided, with many supporting and opposing Dreyfus' innocence, fueling public unrest.

Dreyfus is again convicted in a retrial held in Rennes; the proceedings are marred by violence, and his sentence is somewhat lightened due to mitigating circumstances. Soon after, he is pardoned by the government for his wrongful imprisonment.

Exhausted and discouraged, Dreyfus accepts the pardon, though he wishes to clear his name completely. Picquart, still committed, fights for full exoneration, but Dreyfus withdraws from further fights, feeling defeated.

Seven years later, new evidence leads to Dreyfus's full acquittal, and he is reinstated into the army. The case becomes a symbol of justice victory, although the scars of the miscarriage remain.

In 1907, Picquart is appointed Minister of War, recognizing his role in exposing the injustice. Dreyfus approaches Picquart seeking acknowledgment for his lost rank, but Picquart cannot fulfill this request due to changed political circumstances, leading to their eventual parting.