Synopsis
Michel Bouquet and Stephane Audran are a well-off couple with a young son. They live in anice house in the countryside near Versailles. Everything looks swell. But Audran has beendistant lately. Bouquest suspects she is having an affair. He hires a PI to discover the truth, andthis truth leads to murder. The film is deliberately paced, with a musical score that convincesyou that something awful is going to happen, even when all is, on the surface, benign. Thismakes the viol…nce that much more shocking when it arrives. A fine film.
Audio
The sound is mono, and clear enough, but not without flaws. There are occasional staticbursts, and the volume seems to increase about half an hour into the film. Some buzz comes inwith this crank in volume.
Video
The blacks are strong, as are the (very 60s) colours. The print is in good shape, barring thevery occasional speckle and frame damage. The picture is rather soft, however. As well, whilethe trailer is in 1.85:1, the film itself is only very slightly letterboxed (about 1.66:1).
Special Features
The main page of the menu has a score that plays through once, then stops. Apart from thetrailer, the only extras are bios of Boquet, Audran and director Claude Chabrol. These bios, takenfrom the Biographical Dictionary of Film, are very fine, but the tiny print on a busy backgroundmakes them very difficult to read, even with the zoom engaged.
Closing Thoughts
The packaging leaves something to be desired, but the film is strong enough to overcomethese deficiencies.
Special Features List
- Biographies
- Theatrical Trailer
