The film takes place in a French village and we concentrate on two characters – headmistress Stéphane Audran (Hélène) and butcher Jean Yanne (Paul). Looks like we have a love story coming on. And we do. But hold on, there's been some excellent spooky music during the opening credits suggesting some sort of ominous proceedings. All becomes plain when dead women start appearing in the locale and detective Roger Rudel (Grumbach) appears on the scene to investigate. There is a serial killer operating in the area
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The film has a slow pace but still keeps you watching as you know who the killer is and wait to see how things unfold. Or do you know the killer? Given that we concentrate on two characters, it has to be one of them. You start to doubt the obvious as your imagination takes you to other places. Once it is established who the guilty party is, the story is still gripping as we head to the climax.
What is interesting about this film is that you are left thinking about it. Yep, the guilty party is obviously an abomination – there is no justification for a serial killer no matter what environment has been experienced. You have to be unhinged to carry out these sort of atrocities. But, the other character – to be so morally devoid – surely that is an equally worryingly state of mind to be in? I wonder if this links in to the French notion of murder being justified if it is a crime of passion? Is there no moral obligation to do the right thing if it contradicts your current feelings around the concept of love? And what is love? The satisfaction of an ego? Is the director just relating the psychology of the French, ie, arrogance? And that is what lingers in the minds of the audience from the rest of the world as we think "how can this be right?"
The acting is good in this film and I recommend seeing it as certain scenes stand out. It has a great setting in the village and will guarantee to get you thinking at the end. By the way, I have nothing against the French – I love garlic and onions and I also admire their sense of anarchy and revolution. They truly embody the real punk spirit. If they don't like something, they don't do it. Maybe you need to be arrogant to live like this and maybe that's not such a bad thing. In which case, this film is truly disturbing.
The film has a slow pace but still keeps you watching as you know who the killer is and wait to see how things unfold. Or do you know the killer? Given that we concentrate on two characters, it has to be one of them. You start to doubt the obvious as your imagination takes you to other places. Once it is established who the guilty party is, the story is still gripping as we head to the climax.
What is interesting about this film is that you are left thinking about it. Yep, the guilty party is obviously an abomination – there is no justification for a serial killer no matter what environment has been experienced. You have to be unhinged to carry out these sort of atrocities. But, the other character – to be so morally devoid – surely that is an equally worryingly state of mind to be in? I wonder if this links in to the French notion of murder being justified if it is a crime of passion? Is there no moral obligation to do the right thing if it contradicts your current feelings around the concept of love? And what is love? The satisfaction of an ego? Is the director just relating the psychology of the French, ie, arrogance? And that is what lingers in the minds of the audience from the rest of the world as we think "how can this be right?"
The acting is good in this film and I recommend seeing it as certain scenes stand out. It has a great setting in the village and will guarantee to get you thinking at the end. By the way, I have nothing against the French – I love garlic and onions and I also admire their sense of anarchy and revolution. They truly embody the real punk spirit. If they don't like something, they don't do it. Maybe you need to be arrogant to live like this and maybe that's not such a bad thing. In which case, this film is truly disturbing.