The Hour of the Pig

The story unfolds across the 1403–1596 window, a period when animal trials were conducted under civil law and where Roman law collided with local customs. The era is marked by religious superstition, political maneuvering, and evolving legal norms. The protagonist moves from Paris to a provincial town, where his ideals are tested by a web of sociopolitical intrigue.

Abbeville is portrayed as a quiet rural village in the province of Ponthieu, later described as part of Burgundy rather than France. The town is defined by backlogged courts and a community under the influence of local power. The setting shifts between the courtroom, festive public events, and the everyday lives of peasants and officials, illustrating a medieval society on the edge of change.

⚖️ Justice

The film probes the tension between formal law and moral justice, showing how cases can hinge on local customs, political influence, and personal biases. It contrasts the rigid logic of courtrooms with the messy realities of power in a provincial town. Animal trials reveal how society extends civil penalties to beings beyond humans, challenging notions of fairness and humanity.

🏰 Power & Corruption

A powerful noble uses his position to manipulate outcomes and coerce the legal process. The Seigneur Jehan d'Auferre leverages bribery, social status, and family theatrics to influence Courtois and the trial. The plot exposes how political ambition can masquerade as justice and how dissenting voices are cornered.

❤️ Desire & Ethics

Desire complicates professional ethics as Courtois confronts Samira, a young woman whose presence stirs moral and political repercussions. The relationship tests the lawyer’s boundaries and highlights the gendered dynamics of power in a hostile society. The tension between personal impulses and duty drives part of the narrative’s moral conflict.

🐖 Animals & Law

The central pig trial puts the status of animals within civil law under scrutiny and questions whether the innocent can be spared in a system bent by prejudice. The eventual twist—using a replica pig to exonerate the accused—underscores the fragility of justice when manipulated by circumstance. The case mirrors broader themes of innocence, culpability, and the humanity of those on society’s margins.