CLAUDE CHABROL

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB

Original title:  La Fille Coupee En Deux

Germany/France, 2007.  Alicéléo, Alicéléo Cinéma, France 2 Cinéma, Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, Integral Film, Région Rhône-Alpes, Centre National de la Cinématographie, Canal+, CinéCinéma.  Screenplay by Claude Chabrol, Cecil Maistre. Cinematography by Eduardo Serra.  Produced by Patrick Godeau.  Music by Matthieu Chabrol.  Production Design by Francoise Benoit-Fresco.  Costume Design by Mic Cheminal.  Film Editing by Monique Fardoulis.  

A cheerful Lyons weather girl (Ludivine Sagnier) has her life of straightforward ambition thrown into a quandary when she falls madly in love with an older, married author (François Berléand) and, at the same time, is rejecting the advances of a super-rich playboy (Benoît Magimel) with whom she goes out but with whom she refuses to get close.  Berleand turns the tables and abandons her without explanation, muddying her common sense and turning her into a desperate ,manic depressive until she sees marrying Magimel as the perfect cure and revenge. This wonderful slice of life from Claude Chabrol, who continues in his quest to make sure that the upper classes never get let off easy, is on par with his greatest works, a gorgeously shot, intelligent and subtly humorous drama that becomes richer and funnier as it continues into its heroine’s downward spiral. Excellent performances by all, most especially the charismatic Magimel, who does dandy so very well.

Toronto International Film Festival:  2007