Chaos (2001 film)

Chaos is a French thriller film directed by Coline Serreau and released in 2001. The film stars Catherine Frot and Vincent Lindon.

The story centers around a successful Parisian couple, Paul (Vincent Lindon) and Helene (Catherine Frot). One night, they witness a violent assault and mugging in an underground parking garage. Paul hesitates to intervene, while Helene insists they should help. Paul drives away, leaving the victim, Malika (Rachida Brakni), a young woman of Algerian descent, seriously injured.

Consumed by guilt, Helene searches for Malika, who is now in a coma. Helene eventually finds Malika's family and becomes deeply involved in her life, uncovering a web of secrets, corruption, and the exploitation of immigrant women. As Helene tries to right the wrong she feels Paul committed, their marriage begins to disintegrate. The film explores themes of guilt, social responsibility, the immigrant experience in France, and the consequences of inaction. The "chaos" of the title refers to the disruption and moral quandaries that Helene's actions unleash, both within her personal life and in the lives of those around her.