CinemaSerf (October 24, 2024)

It's quite hard to précis this without giving the game away, but suffice to say that when a film producer is found with an hole in his head, the police conclude that aspiring actress "Madeleine" (Nadia Tereszkiewicz) is the prime suspect after rejecting his casting couch advances. The investigating judge "Rabusset" (Fabrice Luchini) isn't the sharpest tool in the box, nor is he really bothered about the voracity of any verdict, so long as it goes in the solved drawer. Luckily for our defendant, she is best pals with lawyer "Pauline" (Rebecca Marder) who constructs a defence steeped in theatrical delivery that she feels certain will promote the concept of self-defence and see her client walk free. Risky? Well just wait til the second part and the emergence of silent film star "Odette" (Isabelle Huppert doing her best Cleo Laine or Eileen Brennan impersonation) who threatens to inject just a little truth into this semi-farcical scenario and upset just about everyone's apple-cart. Whilst all these courtroom shenanigans are on-going, well-to-do boyfriend "André" (Édouard Sulpice) has come up with a plan to marry well but keep "Madeleine" as his mistress. Hmmm - not quite sure she's really up for that, but as the threads of the storylines start to knit together we are left with a plot that is anything but predicable. The ending isn't the best, it does sort of run out of steam a bit, but for the most part this is a quirkily enjoyable, well-acted, drama that pops a little at the judicial process and showbiz in a fashion that hits more than it misses. It's got a lovely period look to it, the score is suitably mischievous throughout and it proved to be a mystery worth a watch.