The very clinical manner in which the French director chronicles the events leading to the tragic outcome where the people involved are steeped with contempt for the people they regard as outside their class, most unnerving realization. Mr. Chabrol demonstrates impeccable delicacy in showcasing actors' performances that represents different social strata and is able to elicit utmost empathy for them while dispensing a blistering appraisal on the bourgeois class and turning a critical eye towards the lower classes. But the film's most incredible achievement has to be the exemplary tastefulness in handling an otherwise very gruesome climax which aims to help cement judiciousness on the part of the audience rather than just dispense cheapjack thrills.
Strong support from Virginie Ledoyen, Valentin Merlet and Jean-Pierre Cassel, who makes up the three-fourths of the Lelievre household. All managed to make their upper crust characters to have such amiability that's sure gonna make their ultimate fate in the film, which is kind of a forgone conclusion, still feel a bit disconcerting despite their characters seeming a bit infuriating at times but that's mostly owing to the fact that the shelteredness of living in a position of privilege just robs them of any insight of how the lower-ninety percent goes through their lives.
But it's the characterizations of the three leading actresses, ever memorable in the sumptuous and understated quality that one should fervently anticipate. Jacqueline Bisset, whom I've only seen in a few roles during her youth (Day for Night, she's just divine in that one), still looks stunning as a woman in her mid-50s playing a maternal character that is quite a progressive one, a dignified bourgeois presence. And for Isabelle Huppert, whose work I've only seen are her latter roles in her career (I ❤ Huckabees I find being one of her funniest, The Piano Teacher being one of the nastiest) and this one I have to say is her finest yet in her filmography that I have barely explored. It's the exquisiteness on how she possesses the role of such a vile character which is more than enough for some to cherish checking this out and viewing the film multiple times. I bow down. Though this is the first time I've seen Sandrine Bonnaire, that scene where she's struggling to figure out the task given to her by her employers, the anguish was just disheartening to witness. Also the same could be said of that scene where the man-of-the-house George confronts her with a very serious matter while she's watching TV in her bedroom, those shifting glances seemingly conflicted as to whom/which would she turn her attention to. Unforgettable.
An appalling tragedy ever to befall upon anyone irregardless of their station in life.
(A-plus-plus)
Strong support from Virginie Ledoyen, Valentin Merlet and Jean-Pierre Cassel, who makes up the three-fourths of the Lelievre household. All managed to make their upper crust characters to have such amiability that's sure gonna make their ultimate fate in the film, which is kind of a forgone conclusion, still feel a bit disconcerting despite their characters seeming a bit infuriating at times but that's mostly owing to the fact that the shelteredness of living in a position of privilege just robs them of any insight of how the lower-ninety percent goes through their lives.
But it's the characterizations of the three leading actresses, ever memorable in the sumptuous and understated quality that one should fervently anticipate. Jacqueline Bisset, whom I've only seen in a few roles during her youth (Day for Night, she's just divine in that one), still looks stunning as a woman in her mid-50s playing a maternal character that is quite a progressive one, a dignified bourgeois presence. And for Isabelle Huppert, whose work I've only seen are her latter roles in her career (I ❤ Huckabees I find being one of her funniest, The Piano Teacher being one of the nastiest) and this one I have to say is her finest yet in her filmography that I have barely explored. It's the exquisiteness on how she possesses the role of such a vile character which is more than enough for some to cherish checking this out and viewing the film multiple times. I bow down. Though this is the first time I've seen Sandrine Bonnaire, that scene where she's struggling to figure out the task given to her by her employers, the anguish was just disheartening to witness. Also the same could be said of that scene where the man-of-the-house George confronts her with a very serious matter while she's watching TV in her bedroom, those shifting glances seemingly conflicted as to whom/which would she turn her attention to. Unforgettable.
An appalling tragedy ever to befall upon anyone irregardless of their station in life.
(A-plus-plus)