The Advocate (The Hour of the Pig)

1994

The Advocate (The Hour of the Pig)

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75%

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Total Count: 8

53%

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User Ratings: 1,623
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Movie Info

In France in 1452, the dark superstition of the Medieval era was beginning to give way to the more enlightened attitudes of the Renaissance. But the changes were slow in coming, as Richard Courtois (Colin Firth) learns when he moves to the country village of Abbeville, owned and ruled by the Seigneur (Nicol Williamson). Courtois is a lawyer, or an "advocate" as they were called in those days, and the Seigneur has hired him to act as a public defender for those who cannot provide their own legal counsel. One odd remnant of the dark ages that Abbeville has not purged from its legal system is the practice of prosecuting animals as well as humans for crimes; as Courtois arrives, he nearly witnesses the execution of both a man and a donkey who were found guilty of bestiality (the donkey was spared at the last minute because it could not be proved that she consented to the act). So Courtois is not exactly surprised when one of his first cases finds him defending a pig against charges of murdering a small child. Courtois soon discovers that the pig belongs to Samira (Amina Annabi), a beautiful gypsy woman he finds himself falling in love with. Losing the pig would mean losing many meals down the road, so to win Samira's good tidings, Courtois must prove the pig innocent -- which means finding the real killer. However, since the Seigneur is eager to see Courtois (or anyone, for that matter) marry his daughter Filette (Lysette Anthony), his affection for Samira may not be good for his future employment prospects. This period comedy/drama also features Donald Pleasance, Ian Holm, and Michael Gough. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Cast

Colin Firth
as Richard Courtois
Ian Holm
as Albertus
Donald Pleasence
as Pincheon
Nicol Williamson
as The Seigneur
Lysette Anthony
as Filette
Amina Annabi
as Samira
Jim Carter
as Mathieu
Justin Chadwick
as Gerard
Michael Gough
as Magistrate Boniface
Harriet Walter
as Jeannine
Joyce Nettles
Elizabeth Spriggs
as Madame Langlois
Emil Wolk
as Print Seller
Vincent Grass
as Bailiff Labatier
Raoul Delfosse
as Blind George
Jean-Pierre Stewart
as Sheriff
Dave Atkins
as Valliere
Francois Lalande
as Builder
Vernon Dobtcheff
as Apothecary
Sami Bouajila
as Mahmoud
Joanna Dunham
as Lady Catherine d'Auferre
Peter Hudson
as Sheriff's Officer
Charles Dale
as Witness
Roy Evans
as Travelling Player
Robert Putt
as Travelling Player
Ralph Nossek
as Poiccard
Michael Cronin
as Dark Stranger
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Critic Reviews for The Advocate (The Hour of the Pig)

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (2)

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