
The revenge in itself is done quite tastefully, without firecrackers or roman candles. It is instead, a placid, patient psychological manipulation that causes Ariane Fouchécourt’s neatly ordered universe to crumble irreparably. There are little handles in the course of the movie that have potential for climactic disasters, but these are carefully skirted, keeping the viewer on his toes, in anticipation of a drastic conclusion – Melanie’s alteration of Madame Fouchécourt’s sexual tendencies. Emotional control is gradually displaced from Madame Fouchécourt to Melanie, disrupting the bourgeoisie-proletariat power balance.
Such subtlety is not uncommon in psychological thrillers, but the ruthless abandon with which the Melanie wreaks her revenge strikes an extraordinary contrast with the typical repression of the proletariat. One’s teeth is set on edge throughout the course of the movie, as dark, inner passions fester and break out of their wearer in one fell swoop.
The movie is showing in theatres till 27th December, in French with English subtitles.
Anon.
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