Law in Stories

The law in stories (List) series invites students and staff to enter into meaningful discussions together about law in stories (cinema, music, literature). List is organised by Janneke Westra and Paula Lozada as part of the Law & Popular Culture Research Network of Maastricht University, Faculty of Law: https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/law-popular-culture-research-network 


Law in Stories for Hugo and the Law: Film screening – Les Misérables (2019)
Date: 7 May 2025
The third session of Law in Stories (LiSt) was part of the Hugo & the Law Programme organised by the Law and Popular Culture Research Network:

Les Misérables (2019), directed by Ladj Ly. Set in the Parisian suburb of Montfermeil - also the setting featured in Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel - the film explores the persistence of social injustice in contemporary France. Drawing on real-life events of police violence, Les Misérables follows the tense unraveling of a single day after a seemingly minor incident between police officers and local youth threatens to spiral into a full-blown crisis. The film reflects on systemic inequality, and state violence, echoing many of the same concerns that Hugo raised in his original works. After the screening, we will open the floor for a discussion on the legal and political themes raised in the film.

Law in Stories - I am the River, the River is Me
Date: 11 February 2025
The second session of Law in Stories (LiSt) delves further into the intersection of law and cinema through the screening of "I Am the River, the River Is Me" (watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-AaCSa6CLY ). 

This documentary follows Māori tribal leader Ned Tapa and a group of friends and family on a canoe trip in Aotearoa/New Zealand down the Whanganui River, the first river in the world recognized as a legal person.  Following the screening, participants will have a unique opportunity to engage in an online Q&A with the film's directors, followed by an open discussion on the legal elements, questions and implications found within the documentary. 

Law in Stories - Pocahontas
Date: 7 November 2024
The first edition of Law in Stories started with a sparking introduction by Agustin Parise, followed by the screening of Pocahontas in the Statenzaal. After watching the movie, Johanna Ritter and Moramay Koonen set the stage for an inspiring conversation where Pocahontas was related to international law and postcolonial perspectives. Out of this edition, Law in Stories emerged as an initiative to connect the law with all kinds of forms of creative expression!