French director Claude Chabrol (Chocolat) delivers something like a Pedro Almodovar film with this drama that finds a famous author named Charles (François Berléand) and a rich businessmen named Paul (Benoît Magimel) both vying for the attention of Gabrielle (Ludivine Sagnier), a vivacious newscaster who aspires to do more than weather forecasts. Neither suitor is particularly promising, however. Charles has been married for 25 years and tends to be condescending. Paul is a rich kid who doesn’t take no for an answer, cavorting around town in a sports car that costs more than Gabrielle, who still lives with her mother, makes in a year. Eventually, Gabrielle marries Paul, but her heart still longs for Charles, and that’s something the unstable Paul can’t stand. Well-acted and superbly written, the film avoids its soap opera tendencies simply because it’s so sophisticated, and the numerous tragic twists will constantly keep you guessing. HHH
This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2008.
