It actually can't get much more French than in this Chabrol. I mean, French of the last millennium; and yet.
The first half is the lesser part, it reminds one more of some crime story where everyone seems to understand and yet, the viewer is totally out of touch. A grain of film noir.
Then, the inspector drops into the village, knowing nothing more than the audience. But while he starts to string things together, the audience can follow and unravel more and more.
Chabrol explores all depths and widths of the psychology of the typical elder white rich prominent figure of the typical French village. A maîtresse, a bit of boredom, plenty of money and still greedy. The ugly bourgeois.
I for one enjoy the very minor role of the chief of postal services. The opposite and yet original French bureaucrat. I guess Chabrol enjoyed that one as well.
French, I dare say typical French, too, the encouraging behaviour of the young lady working in the post office. French women used to enjoy their freedom already some generations ago.
French, alas, though a tad overdone, the liberties of the police inspector.
Plus, on top of a gifted director, a honourable set of acting capabilities. Stéphane Audran, Chabrol's ex, amazing as the frustrated wheel-chair bound femme. Left by her husband, and thinking of nothing but the girlfriends of her son.
Let's put it like this: if this wasn't just French, and therefore digestible by the audience in the anglo-american half of the world, it would be ranked significantly higher.
The first half is the lesser part, it reminds one more of some crime story where everyone seems to understand and yet, the viewer is totally out of touch. A grain of film noir.
Then, the inspector drops into the village, knowing nothing more than the audience. But while he starts to string things together, the audience can follow and unravel more and more.
Chabrol explores all depths and widths of the psychology of the typical elder white rich prominent figure of the typical French village. A maîtresse, a bit of boredom, plenty of money and still greedy. The ugly bourgeois.
I for one enjoy the very minor role of the chief of postal services. The opposite and yet original French bureaucrat. I guess Chabrol enjoyed that one as well.
French, I dare say typical French, too, the encouraging behaviour of the young lady working in the post office. French women used to enjoy their freedom already some generations ago.
French, alas, though a tad overdone, the liberties of the police inspector.
Plus, on top of a gifted director, a honourable set of acting capabilities. Stéphane Audran, Chabrol's ex, amazing as the frustrated wheel-chair bound femme. Left by her husband, and thinking of nothing but the girlfriends of her son.
Let's put it like this: if this wasn't just French, and therefore digestible by the audience in the anglo-american half of the world, it would be ranked significantly higher.