BEFORE CSI: THE ORIGINS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

In the late 19^th century, in the space of just a few years, criminal investigation entered a new era: that of science. The confession was gradually superseded by a new cornerstone of truth: physical evidence.

From Paris to Buenos Aires, via London, Turin, Graz and Lausanne, a handful of pioneers developed revolutionary new methods: anthropometry, dactyloscopy, ballistics, criminalistics… Driven by figures such as Alphonse Bertillon, Alexandre Lacassagne, Hans Gross, Rodolphe Reiss and Cesare Lombroso – alongside the unavoidable fictional character Sherlock Holmes – every investigation became a laboratory of innovation.

Weaving together unseen archives, dramatic reenactments and expert analysis, this documentary charts the birth of modern forensic science through a series of landmark cases – some triumphant, some controversial. A compelling story of how science redefined the pursuit of truth, and laid the foundations for today’s technologies.