Character Relationship Map: Poison

Characters

• Paul Louis Victor Braconnier (played by Michel Simon) — protagonist

  The central protagonist, Paul Louis Victor Braconnier visits Maître Aubanel and confesses that he killed his wife. He describes months of exhaustion, betrayal, and desperate conflict, while insisting...

• Maître Aubanel (played by Jean Debucourt) — supporting

  Maître Aubanel is the lawyer chosen by Paul Louis Victor Braconnier after hearing him speak on the radio. Known for winning acquittals, he questions Paul closely about the weapon, premeditation, infid...

• Germaine Chevillard (played by Marcelle Arnold) — supporting

  Germaine Chevillard is one of the villagers or acquaintances called as a witness during the investigation and trial. Her appearance places her among the community members whose testimony helps frame t...

• André (played by Louis de Funès) — supporting

  André is among the villagers and acquaintances called to testify during the investigation and trial. The supplied material does not give the details of his evidence, but his participation places him w...

• Victor Boitevin (played by Nicolas Amato) — supporting

  Victor Boitevin is called as a witness during the investigation and trial. Although the supplied dialogue does not specify the full substance of his testimony, his presence connects him to the village...

• L'abbé Méthivier (played by Albert Duvaleix) — supporting

  L'abbé Méthivier is the village priest who receives visitors seeking advice while the community discusses marriage, infidelity, alcohol, jealousy, and moral conduct. He is also called as a witness dur...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Paul Louis Victor Braconnier → Maître Aubanel (Professional Lawyer And Client) — A legal relationship that becomes central to Paul's attempt to explain and justify the killing.

  Paul visits Maître Aubanel and asks him to defend him after confessing that he killed his wife. He chose Aubanel because he had heard his successful d...

Story Dynamics

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

• L'abbé Méthivier → Germaine Chevillard (Social Community Acquaintance) — Both are presented as members of the village community involved in its moral and social discussions.

  The priest receives visitors seeking advice while Germaine is identified as a village witness within the same network of local conversations and testi...

• Paul Louis Victor Braconnier → L'abbé Méthivier (Social Case-Related Acquaintance) — The priest is part of the local social world that observes and discusses the case.

  L'abbé Méthivier appears among the people connected with the village testimony and courtroom proceedings concerning Paul's case.

• Paul Louis Victor Braconnier → André (Narrative Witness And Accused) — André participates in the community testimony surrounding the accusation against Paul.

  André is included among the villagers and acquaintances called as witnesses during the investigation and trial.

• Paul Louis Victor Braconnier → Victor Boitevin (Narrative Witness And Accused) — Victor is connected to the case through testimony about the events and local circumstances.

  Victor Boitevin is identified as one of the villagers and acquaintances called to testify during the investigation and trial.

• Paul Louis Victor Braconnier → Germaine Chevillard (Narrative Witness And Accused) — Germaine contributes to the external testimony surrounding Paul's criminal case.

  Germaine Chevillard is named among the villagers and acquaintances called as witnesses during the investigation and trial concerning Paul's wife's dea...

Story Analysis

A village murder case becomes a contested struggle between personal desperation, alleged self-defense, and the prosecution's interpretation of poison as preparation.

Plot Progression

1. Village Beneath the Drama — The film begins with a theatrical presentation before moving into Rémonville. Commerce complaints, marital tensions, jealousy, alcohol, and gossip establish a morally judgmental community.
2. A Confession at the Office — Paul visits Maître Aubanel and calmly confesses to killing his wife. Aubanel questions the weapon, premeditation, drinking, infidelity, and Paul's exhaustion.
3. The Poisoned Possibility — Paul explains that he had considered murder or suicide and that Aubanel's reputation gave him courage. He also introduces rat poison and the possibility that his wife planned a crime.
4. Testimony Under Suspicion — The investigation and trial bring village witnesses into the case. Their testimony places Paul's private conflict within the wider judgments of Rémonville.
5. Self-Defense on Trial — Paul rejects the simple label of murderer and claims self-defense. The accusation answers that his story implies a shared criminal plot and uses rat poison as evidence of preparation.