Pandora - new Belgian crime drama on channel 4 - first episode midnight 25 February on C4

[IwantToRetire]

The paths of an experienced investigative judge and a ruthlessly ambitious MP collide when a tragic sexual assault occurs.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/pandora

Cant find out much more about this but a long review (which may have spoilers) from when it was shown in Australia https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/society-s-divisions-laid-bare-in-belgian-crime-drama-pandore-20230519-p5d9r5.html

Must have been quite well received as a second series is on the way

I found some of the scenes in the first episode of this too horrific and gratuitous to continue watching.

Thanks for posting this info. I saw it just before I was going to watch but thought not a good late night wind down option.

Have recorded so may watch later with the option to FF through excessive portrayal of violence, to see if story is worth following.

It wasn't particularly violent, I just didn't like a main feature of the story and some of the scenes disturbed me. You may be ok with them and it may just be me.

I've now watched 2 episodes.

And it is always troubling when they use sexual violence against women as one of the main story lines.

And assuming this is what you found gratuitous I agree. They could have conveyed what happened without depicting it as they did, even though I suspect they thought that they were not doing this by making it (gross) the background story for the accidental witness.

But what seemed almost worse is that by the second episode the victim of this attack is sitting round having rational conversations.

And is this episode the now almost obligatory scenes of violence in prisons.

Not sure what the answer is as both acts of violence do happen. But how to show them as part of a tv series in a way that isn't exploitative I dont know.

If you watch a fair number of mini-series on Netflix or Walter Presents, the sheer number of that feature VAWG becomes almost... well, what? Numbing? A young girl is found dead in a picturesque forest and/or beside a lake? How many times have I seen that story, and in how many languages?

IwantToRetire I agree with your post completely. I watch lots of crime dramas with grim storylines so wasn't expecting a cosy drama. I thought there was no need to show the young victim naked. It did feel exploitative as you said.

Just to say I have now watched the whole series - not sure why.

So SPOILERS ahead to anyone thinking of starting to watch.

Apart from the rape scene, the next most horrific scene was when the rape victim was asked and agreed to do a "re-enactment"!!!!!?????

I know nothing about the legal process in Belgium and dont know if this is standard procedure or just more torture porn dreampt up by the director. Either way it must (if seen) have a terrible impact on someone who has been through this trauma and make the idea of reporting your rape out of the question.

A lot of the plot line seem borrowed from other euro-crime dramas. There was definitely one where a female judge had a nice young man being her sort of office wifey.

And one of the main problems, apart from the exploitative nature of the VAWG, was that the Judge seemed to totally lack any empathy towards anyone, victim, family, dumped lover. I am not sure as she was meant to represent some sort of dedicated female heroine battling against the system. Or the opposite. An over obsess woman who let her person feelings cloud her judgement.

As far as I can make out the series was actually a criticism of politicians, and all the incidents, etc., were just filling in the bits between politicians stabbing each other in the back and lying to voters - and inflaming racist feelings to get votes.

Oh dear, sounds like it could have been set in the UK!!!!!!

Special request

If any one has watched this or anyone is familiar with Belgian / French feminism can you identify the song the 4 friends of the rape victim sang. Possibly called Rise Up Women.

I've tried googling and nothing comes up, and it doesn't appear in series credits so wondered if it is an existing song.

Thank you

Hi there. I am responding to your interest in the feminist song the four friends sang at the funeral. I found this very moving and I have enjoyed a version of this
performed by a French troupe of left wing singers and musicians who sing in the streets of Paris and elsewhere. I came across them on You Tube. Incidentally I think the acting is superb in this series.

Thanks - how did you find them on youtube?! Do you have the link.

I tried searching but my lack of French I think made it impossible.

Do you know the song title by any chance?

And yes very moving.

The song is called L'Hymne Des Femmes and is performed by
Compagnie Jolie Mome.
I hope this helps.

@Chantarelle

Thanks so much, that's brilliant. Have now found it on youtube

Although I think the friends singing it in the tv series was better!

https://www.kikafekoi.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Paroles-Hymne-des-Femmes.pdf

Pleased to have been of help.