The English title is much better for it perfectly describes the film.A man (the credits read "Lui" (Him) ) and a woman (the credits read "Elle" (Her)) meet up in a hut in Normandy during WW2 . All the story takes place in a room (except for the first scenes at the intelligence service office).It could be played on stage (it would probably be better on stage for the two characters talk very much.)
Both are agents ;and of course handsome Robert Hossein and gorgeous Marina Vlady (who were husband and wife at the time)fall in love at first sight.But the essential is less emotional than logical.For there are four possibilities: Are they agents working for the allies or are they spies?
1°)Both are spies;both lie.
2°)The man is a spy ,the woman is not.
3°)The woman is a spy,the man is not.
4°) Both are English agents ;both tell the truth.
They will spend the whole night,eating ,drinking champagne,dancing,suspecting each other,making love,trying to fool the other ,trying to know who he (she) is really is.
This is a one-of-a-kind spy thriller.Robert Hossein,whose works as a director are largely ignored ,had at the beginning of the sixties his own style:both "Toi le Venin" (an absorbing thriller where one of two sisters -Marina Vlady and her sister Odile Versois- might be a murderer but which one?) and "Le Jeu De La Verité" sort of Christie-like murder mystery had already displayed a penchant for atmospheres behind closed doors.The last third of "J'Ai Tué Raspoutine" took place in a cellar in the assassin's house.
Both are agents ;and of course handsome Robert Hossein and gorgeous Marina Vlady (who were husband and wife at the time)fall in love at first sight.But the essential is less emotional than logical.For there are four possibilities: Are they agents working for the allies or are they spies?
1°)Both are spies;both lie.
2°)The man is a spy ,the woman is not.
3°)The woman is a spy,the man is not.
4°) Both are English agents ;both tell the truth.
They will spend the whole night,eating ,drinking champagne,dancing,suspecting each other,making love,trying to fool the other ,trying to know who he (she) is really is.
This is a one-of-a-kind spy thriller.Robert Hossein,whose works as a director are largely ignored ,had at the beginning of the sixties his own style:both "Toi le Venin" (an absorbing thriller where one of two sisters -Marina Vlady and her sister Odile Versois- might be a murderer but which one?) and "Le Jeu De La Verité" sort of Christie-like murder mystery had already displayed a penchant for atmospheres behind closed doors.The last third of "J'Ai Tué Raspoutine" took place in a cellar in the assassin's house.