In this highly unusual film, Bernard Giraudeau perfectly embodies the ophidian lure of the subtle dominator...which engenders a good deal of sympathy for the young man experiencing the ongoing regimen of psychological manipulation, brainwashing, and downright torture imposed on him. M. Giraudeau is a wonderful actor, probably one of the very few who could portray this character. I could not help thinking that his Leopold is exactly like M. Delamont, the sinister and tyrannizing character who drove his young "employee" to murder in "A Matter of Taste", released the same year as this film. This film almost seems a prequel: as if Leopold changed his name to M. Delamont, refined his techniques enough to cause the events leading to his own well-merited demise in "a Matter of Taste." Bravo, M. Giraudeau. I can't imagine anyone else being able to play either of these difficult, fascinating and repellant roles.
Review of Water Drops on Burning Rocks
