Le Secret de la grotte

On the banks of the Ardèche, near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, kayakers find the body of the museum president of a recently discovered Paleolithic cave. A 40,000-year-old carved stone was embedded in his neck. To investigate, Captain Manon Ferret-Duval of the research section teams up with her counterpart Riad Lekcir. They must overcome a shared past: she is convinced that her partner's older brother is responsible for the murder of her parents in 1994. Riad has no doubt that Kamel, now deceased, is innocent.

Directed by Christelle Raynal, Le Secret de la grotte leans on a strong ensemble — Samy Gharbi, Élodie Varlet, Franck Adrien — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about tv movie titles of 2023.