A father confronts the terrifying realization that he is a stranger to his own son.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In Bertrand Tavernier’s 1974 debut, The Clockmaker, a quiet watchmaker’s life is shattered when his teenage son commits a murder. As the boy flees with his girlfriend, the father is forced to look past his own shock and social standing to decide where his true loyalties lie in a changing world.

Michel Descombes, a widowed watchmaker living in Lyons, leads a predictable, peaceful existence above his shop. His world collapses when police inform him that his teenage son, Bernard, has killed a factory security guard and vanished with a girl named Liliane. Michel, who initially knows nothing of the victim or the circumstances, finds himself thrust into a public spotlight, naively speaking to journalists before realizing he must protect his family. His journey reveals a painful disconnect; he discovers that a former caretaker is far closer to his son than he ever was.

The film, based on Georges Simenon’s 1954 novel L'Horloger d'Everton, explores the tension between parental duty and the harsh realities of the law. The police inspector, seeking to use Michel to locate the fugitives, attempts to build a rapport with him. When the pair is eventually captured in the north and returned to Lyon, the legal defense centers on the claim that the victim had coerced Liliane. Despite the inspector’s belief that the act was not premeditated, the court remains unmoved, sentencing Bernard to 20 years for murder and Liliane to 5 years for abetting the crime.

Tavernier’s directorial debut was a critical success, winning the Silver Bear Special Jury Prize at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. The film also received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film from the U.S. National Board of Review and currently holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Beyond the courtroom drama, the story concludes with a poignant shift in perspective. Michel visits his son in prison, not to condemn him, but to share news of Liliane’s pregnancy. By committing to support the child alongside Liliane’s parents, Michel finally steps into the role of a father, choosing solidarity over the judgment of society.

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