Killer in My Village

Friends and colleagues of French filmmaker Laureline Garcia‑Bertaux grew increasingly worried when she failed to turn up for work. They were unaware that she had been killed by her boyfriend and buried in a shallow grave, the circumstances remaining unknown to them at the time.

The episode titled Laureline Garcia‑Bertaux centres on the French film‑maker of the same name. It is presented as a programme rather than a feature film, and its format follows the conventions of a single episode. The focus remains on Garcia‑Bertaux herself, offering a concise look at the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Within the narrative, the concern of her friends forms the initial thread. They grew increasingly uneasy when Laureline failed to appear for work, assuming she might simply be delayed or unwell. Unaware of the tragedy that had unfolded, they continued to wait, unaware that she had been murdered by her boyfriend. The episode reveals that her body was concealed in a shallow grave, a detail that only emerges later in the story. The revelation that her partner was responsible for the killing adds a stark, unsettling layer to the account. The programme does not provide further background on the investigation or any subsequent actions, focusing solely on the moment when those closest to her realised that the disappearance was, in fact, a homicide. By limiting the information to what her friends knew—or didn’t know—the episode underscores the sudden and violent shift from ordinary concern to the grim reality of her death.