A well-performed and beautifully staged romp purporting to be the story of Moliere's career before he found royal favour.
The leader of a theatrical troupe, he is engaged by a merchant, delightfully played by Fabrice Luchini, to help him perform a self-written play to win the affections of a spoilt Countess, Ludivine Sagnier, even though he has a beautiful wife, Laura Morante. Moliere is purportedly in the household as a tutor to their teenage daughter but is not accepted by the wife at first though she later succumbs to his charm in more ways than one. The daughter is going to be married to the son of the nobleman supposedly helping the father's efforts at seduction though she loves her music teacher. Eventually, Moliere is able to devise a plan whereby this marriage is called off by the nobleman, the daughter marries her lover and husband and wife are re-united. Moliere departs with his debts settled and rejoins his troupe to spend the following years touring and honing their skills. Although he wants to write tragedies, he accepts that comedy is his metier and becomes a court favourite by the film's end. Romain Duris in the lead role gives a sparkling performance which is matched by both Luchini and Morante.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Anna M: Michel Spinosa
In the eponymous lead role, Isabelle Carre yet again gives an outstanding performance of a disturbed woman. While out walking the dog, she steps in front of a car - an unexplained action which does bring Gilbert Melki into the film as the doctor who treats her. She becomes obsessed with him even though he is married and shows her no more than the kindness one might expect of a doctor. There are one or two scenes involving the two where he should have been more circumspect but
by then her infatuation has become clinical. With the help of a girl friend she appears to have been cured but the closing shots leave this in doubt. Well supported by the rest of the cast, this is very much a tour de force by Carre. I only hope she is able to extend her range in films we have yet to see.
by then her infatuation has become clinical. With the help of a girl friend she appears to have been cured but the closing shots leave this in doubt. Well supported by the rest of the cast, this is very much a tour de force by Carre. I only hope she is able to extend her range in films we have yet to see.
Rampo, Edogawa: Beast in the Shadows
In the same book as 'The Black Lizard', this is a more conventional thriller with the protagonist being a writer of detective stories which he considers are of two kinds - those where the crime and its commission are all that matter and those where the motives and psychological background come to the fore, the sort of which the narrator is one. He becomes involved with a beautiful young wife of an older successful businessman because she is being threatened by a lover from her past who is also a writer of detective stories but of the former kind. She is greatly disturbed by receiving letter which describe her home
life in intimate and exact detail with the stated threat of revenge for her having jilted her lover. The latter has been very successful but has always been a misanthrope and recluse with his wife being the contact with the outside world. Efforts to find him are unsuccesful and the threat to kill her husband is carried out which leaves the narrator even more determined to bring the killer to justice - he has also by now become emotionally and physically involved with the widow. Excellent plotting brings the story to an unexpected conclusion though the ending is logically presented and completely realistic. I found this the more satisfying of the two tales possibly because it is much closer to the usual detective stories being written in Britain and the USA at the same time and later.
life in intimate and exact detail with the stated threat of revenge for her having jilted her lover. The latter has been very successful but has always been a misanthrope and recluse with his wife being the contact with the outside world. Efforts to find him are unsuccesful and the threat to kill her husband is carried out which leaves the narrator even more determined to bring the killer to justice - he has also by now become emotionally and physically involved with the widow. Excellent plotting brings the story to an unexpected conclusion though the ending is logically presented and completely realistic. I found this the more satisfying of the two tales possibly because it is much closer to the usual detective stories being written in Britain and the USA at the same time and later.
Rampo, Edogawa: The Black Lizard
Considered the grand master of mystery, Hirai Taro flourished in the years leading up to the Japanese wars of the 1930s and
later wrote adventure stories before, finally, writing for children until his death in 1965. This novel is the story of the conflict between a master female criminal who is first seen at a New Year's Eve party dancing erotically in the nude and her nemesis, a master detective. Both seem to be excellent at disguising themselves to avoid capture or exposure though this does, at times, seem rather hard to accept as the detective, especially, seems to be able to appear in close contact with others for extended periods. Rather a pot-boiler as the overall tale is somewhat far-fetched but an interesting read.
later wrote adventure stories before, finally, writing for children until his death in 1965. This novel is the story of the conflict between a master female criminal who is first seen at a New Year's Eve party dancing erotically in the nude and her nemesis, a master detective. Both seem to be excellent at disguising themselves to avoid capture or exposure though this does, at times, seem rather hard to accept as the detective, especially, seems to be able to appear in close contact with others for extended periods. Rather a pot-boiler as the overall tale is somewhat far-fetched but an interesting read.
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