A pop star, a famous actress and a tragedy made worse by the sexism of the press

Frontman of the French rock band Noir Désir, Bertrand Cantat flew from Paris to Vilnius, Lithuania, to accompany his girlfriend, actress Marie Trintignant, who was filming a movie.

One morning, in the hotel room, the relationship based on extreme jealousy on the singer's part ended with the artist in a coma after suffering 19 injuries to her face and head — including the shattering of her nose.

Transferred to a clinic in France, Marie did not survive: she died at the age of 41, leaving behind four children, a brother, her father and mother, a famous clan linked to cinema.

The details of the crime, the killer's psychological profile and a surprising second victim of the rocker are the focus of the three-part series 'From Rock Star to Murderer: The Cantat Case', available on Netflix.

France is a country that highly values the right to privacy. The majority of the population rejects the exploitation of celebrities' privacy.

Laws against paparazzi, for example, were strengthened after the death of Princess Diana in Paris, as a result of an accident when her car was being chased by photographers on motorcycles.

When the case involving Bertrand and Marie exploded in the media, the French were shocked by the details of violence against the actress.

Some in the press tried to cover up the rocker, associating his abhorrent behavior with intense emotion. Years later, journalists admitted they were wrong to minimize the pop star's responsibility.

The victim was judged for having children with different partners, in blatant sexism and lack of ethics, as if she was to blame — or even deserved — the punches that resulted in her death.

Bertrand benefited from being a handsome man, a sex symbol, compared to Jim Morrison of The Doors. Fans defended him fervently. They argued that it was necessary to separate the talented idol from his private life. A controversial dichotomy.

From a certain point on, 'From Rock Star to Murderer: The Cantat Case' gains a new protagonist: the Hungarian Krisztina Rády, the singer's first wife, whom he abandoned in the hospital, after she gave birth to the couple's second child, to be with Marie.

His ex played a key role in Bertrand's trial, influencing a much lighter sentence than expected. Four years later, she supported his reintegration into society.

As the series reveals through testimonies and audio, the passionate Krisztina paid with her own life: in early 2010, she was found hanged at home, an apparent suicide, while the singer slept downstairs. She was 41 years old, just like Marie Trintignant.

On July 24, the Bordeaux Public Prosecutor's Office announced the reopening of the case with an investigation into "intentional violence" by the rocker against his ex-wife during their marriage and after his release from prison.

The repercussion of the series was the pivotal point in the decision of prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul, who watched the episodes.

Now 61, Bertrand Cantat is trying to revive his career with another band, Détroit, but every time he schedules a show, he faces protests. His performances are restricted to the internet.

He continues to live in the south of France, protected by relatives and friends. There are rumors that he has remarried. He refuses to speak to reporters.