Character Relationship Map: A Crime

Characters

• Maître Charles Dunand (played by Alain Delon) — protagonist

  A celebrated defense lawyer, Dunand represents Frédéric at the murder trial and anxiously awaits the jury’s verdict. After Frédéric is acquitted, Dunand refuses to accept his confession without proof...

• Frédéric Chapelin (played by Manuel Blanc) — protagonist

  A wealthy young man accused of murdering both parents, Frédéric is acquitted after Dunand defends him. He then claims he committed the murders and arranged a false alibi with Franca Miller. Haunted by...

• Franca Miller (played by Sophie Broustal) — supporting

  Franca Miller is connected to Frédéric’s account of the murders through the false alibi he says he arranged. Frédéric claims he planned for her to confirm that he spent the night with her, allowing hi...

• Lucien Butard (played by Maxime Leroux) — supporting

  Lucien Butard is the caretaker who accompanies Frédéric back to the apartment after the acquittal. His testimony helped establish the prosecution’s case against Frédéric, placing him in a consequentia...

Canonical Relationships

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

• Maître Charles Dunand → Frédéric Chapelin (Professional Defense Counsel And Client) — Dunand is Frédéric's defense lawyer in the case involving his parents' deaths.

  Maître Charles Dunand defends Frédéric during the murder trial and argues for his acquittal.

Story Dynamics

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

• Maître Charles Dunand → Lucien Butard (Conflict Evidentiary Opponent) — Lucien's evidence stands on the opposing side of Dunand's courtroom strategy.

  Lucien's testimony helped establish the prosecution's case while Maître Charles Dunand defended Frédéric.

• Lucien Butard → Frédéric Chapelin (Conflict Prosecution Witness) — Lucien's testimony contributes to the case that threatens Frédéric's freedom.

  Lucien Butard is identified as the caretaker whose testimony helped establish the prosecution's case against Frédéric.

• Frédéric Chapelin → Franca Miller (Alliance Alibi Collaborator) — Franca's confirmation is used as part of Frédéric's alleged deception.

  Frédéric says he arranged for Franca Miller to confirm that he spent the night with her, creating a false alibi.

Story Analysis

An acquitted man confesses to murder, forcing his lawyer to uncover a buried childhood secret and face an unresolved threat.

Plot Progression

1. The Trial Under Pressure — The murder trial dominates Lyon as the evidence against Frédéric appears devastating. Maître Charles Dunand waits anxiously while the jury deliberates.
2. The Acquitted Suspect — The jury acquits Frédéric, but he immediately returns to the apartment where the killings occurred. His movement suggests that the legal victory has not resolved the crime.
3. A Confession Without Proof — Frédéric claims responsibility for the murders and describes a false alibi involving Franca Miller. Dunand questions whether the confession is genuine or another manipulation.
4. The Buried Childhood Secret — During Dunand's night interrogation, Frédéric connects the crime to a murder discovered in childhood. The hidden corpse and the concealed trapdoor explain his obsession with revenge.
5. Toward the Trapdoor — Dunand suspects that Frédéric killed his parents to expose their guilt. Frédéric warns that anyone who sees the hiding place must die, then leads Dunand toward it.