Premier airing on France.tv starting Thursday, February 12, 2026, followed by its broadcast on France 2 on Wednesday, February 18, at 9:10 p.m., La Maman du bourreau is a drama directed by Gabriel Aghion, co-written with Stéphanie Kalfon. Loosely adapted from the book Je suis la maman du bourreau by David Lelait-Helo (Héloïse d’Ormesson editions, 2022), the telefilm features performances by Marie-Christine Barrault, Laurent Stocker (from the Comédie-Française), and Xavier Robic. This socially conscious fiction takes an intimate perspective on a delicate subject, portraying the story from the point of view of a mother facing the unimaginable.
At 80 years old, Gabrielle de Miremont, a proud member of the bourgeois Catholic elite, seems to have spent her life free from doubt. That is until a police officer knocks on her door to deliver the devastating news: her son, Father Pierre-Marie, has died. The impact is immediate, her world collapsing around her. However, this tragedy has its roots a month earlier, when a news article uncovers a pedophilia scandal in the area. Slowly but surely, suspicion begins to take hold, chipping away at her certainties and the idealized image she held of her beloved son.
The film centers on Gabrielle's inner journey. It's neither a police investigation nor a courtroom drama; instead, the story delves into the grey areas, silences, and denial mechanisms. Gabriel Aghion explains that he deliberately stayed away from sensationalizing the event to focus on the intimate experience of a woman whose sense of motherhood is faltering. The question posed is overwhelming: how can one continue to love their child when faced with the unspeakable?
A renowned figure in French cinema and theater, Marie-Christine Barrault delivers a restrained and nuanced performance as Gabrielle de Miremont. Her portrayal earned her the Best Actress Award at the 2025 Cognac Polar Festival. Alongside her, Laurent Stocker plays Pierre-Marie de Miremont, with Xavier Robic, Laetitia Vercken, Sabine Haudepin, and Nicky Marbot rounding out the cast. The director favors intimate, enclosed settings and subtle confrontations, heightening the film’s introspective tone.
Following in the tradition of contemporary French dramas that explore moral and social divides, the telefilm adopts a serious tone, focusing on themes of responsibility, faith, and family loyalty. Far from preachy, it delivers a tight, 1-hour and 30-minute story that challenges viewers to confront their own limits and convictions.
The Executioner's Mother
Film | 2026
Broadcast on France 2: February 18, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Available on france.tv from February 12, 2026
Drama | Length: 1h30
Directed by Gabriel Aghion | Starring Marie-Christine Barrault, Laurent Stocker, Xavier Robic
Original title: The Executioner's Mother
Country: France
Inspired by David Lelait-Helo’s book, Gabriel Aghion crafts a compelling drama that explores the intricate bond between mother and child in the wake of a shocking crime. Bolstered by a critically acclaimed performance and a deliberately restrained script, the film continues the tradition of nuanced French psychological dramas that delve into personal vulnerabilities.
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