Character Relationship Map: Cover Up

Characters

• Commissaire Martin Griffon (played by Claude Brasseur) — protagonist

  A police commissaire who takes charge of the investigation into d'Alins's killing. He challenges the official account, follows evidence linking the victim to Suzy Thomson and Avram Kazavian, and press...

• Christian Lacassagne (played by Jean-Louis Trintignant) — supporting

  The Minister of Transport, whom Avram Kazavian says he bribed through d'Alins in pursuit of railway contracts. Lacassagne acknowledges that powerful government and security institutions are involved a...

• Avram Kazavian (played by Robert Hirsch) — supporting

  An industrialist whose company is seeking major railway contracts. He admits to using d'Alins to bribe Christian Lacassagne and says the lawyer later tried to blackmail him, but denies ordering the ki...

• Suzy Thomson, alias D'Annunzio (played by Dayle Haddon) — supporting

  A prostitute who appears to have powerful protection and refuses to discuss d'Alins with Griffon. The investigation connects her to possible evidence because expensive crocodile-skin boots, resembling...

• Me Antoine d'Alins (played by Jacques Dacqmine) — supporting
• Philippe d'Alins (played by Daniel Jégou) — supporting

  A lawyer whose killing drives Griffon's investigation. The journalist says he had received threats, requested protection, and then had it withdrawn; she also reports that he kept a large amount of cas...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Commissaire Martin Griffon → Me Antoine d'Alins (Narrative Murder Case Investigator And Victim) — Griffon investigates the shooting death of the lawyer identified in the character list as Me Antoine d'Alins.

  The synopsis says that lawyer d'Alins is shot dead and that Griffon takes over the case.

• Avram Kazavian → Philippe d'Alins (Conflict Business Associate Turned Blackmail Target) — Kazavian describes using d'Alins in a bribery scheme and claims that the lawyer later attempted to blackmail him. The synopsis does not establish whether this d'Alins is Philippe.

  Kazavian says he used d'Alins to bribe Lacassagne and that the lawyer later tried to blackmail him.

• Christian Lacassagne → Avram Kazavian (Social Bribery Connection) — Kazavian says he used d'Alins as an intermediary to bribe Lacassagne in connection with railway contracts.

  Kazavian admits that he used d'Alins to bribe Christian Lacassagne, the Minister of Transport.

• Commissaire Martin Griffon → Avram Kazavian (Conflict Investigator And Subject) — Griffon investigates Kazavian's connections to the bribery and murder case; Kazavian acknowledges the bribe but denies responsibility for the killing.

  Griffon's inquiry points toward Kazavian, who admits using d'Alins to bribe Lacassagne and denies killing d'Alins.

• Commissaire Martin Griffon → Suzy Thomson, alias D'Annunzio (Conflict Interrogator And Reluctant Witness) — Griffon questions Suzy about d'Alins, but she withholds information and becomes relevant to his inquiry through the clues reported by the journalist.

  Griffon pressures Suzy, who refuses to discuss d'Alins. The journalist then persuades Griffon to consider clues connected to Suzy's home.

• Commissaire Martin Griffon → Christian Lacassagne (Conflict Investigating Officer And Reluctant Witness) — Griffon tries to obtain testimony connecting the minister to the affair, while Lacassagne resists formal questioning; their encounter subsequently becomes a source of accusation against Griffon.

  Griffon presses Lacassagne to repeat his statements before a judge, but Lacassagne refuses. Griffon is later accused of taking advantage of Lacassagne...

Story Analysis

Griffon pursues a politically sensitive murder investigation while testimony, institutional pressure, and uncertain clues prevent a clear resolution.

Plot Progression

1. A Murder and a Disputed Account — A lawyer is shot dead, and a shaken journalist reports that uniformed men carried out the killing. The initial investigators show little interest, prompting Griffon's involvement.
2. Clues Under Pressure — Griffon encounters resistance as the journalist reports threats and withdrawn protection. Her clues about cash and boots point toward possible connections but do not identify who ordered the murder.
3. The Bribery Connection — Kazavian admits that he used d'Alins to bribe Lacassagne and claims the lawyer later tried to blackmail him. He denies killing d'Alins, leaving the central accusation unresolved.
4. Pressure from Above — Lacassagne acknowledges institutional involvement but refuses to make a statement before a judge. Griffon faces an accusation and pressure from a senior official, yet is set to return to active duty a...