La cérémonie (1995)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Ruth Rendell (novel)
Claude Chabrol (writer) ...

Release Date:

20 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Sophie, a quiet and shy maid working for the upper-class family Lelievre, hides her illiteracy under the cloak of a perfect household and obedience...

Plot Keywords:

Maid | Friend | Post Office | Illiteracy | Shame

Awards:

7 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Isabelle Huppert	...	Jeanne
Sandrine Bonnaire	...	Sophie
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Georges Lelievre
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Catherine Lelievre
Virginie Ledoyen	...	Melinda
Valentin Merlet	...	Gilles
Julien Rochefort	...	Jeremie
Dominique Frot	...	Madame Lantier
Jean-François Perrier	...	Priest
Ludovic Brillant
Claire Chiron
Claire-Marie Dentraygues
Jean-Pierre Descheix
Penny Fairclough
Alain Françoise

Also Known As:

A Judgement in Stone
Biester (Germany)
Blutiger Engel (Germany)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | Germany

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Saint-Coulomb, Ille-et-Vilaine, France

Company:

France 3 Cinéma

Trivia:

The film Jaqueline Bisset and Valentin Merlet watching is Les noces rouges (1973).

Movie Connections:

Features "Top Cat" (1961)

Intriguing Film

This is one of those films that I happened upon, late one night and I could not take my eyes off of it. The characters are very enigmatic and I kept hoping that more would be revealed about the two lead characters (Bonnaire and Huppert)shadowy past experiences. Claude Chabrol demonstrates his ability to be France's Alfred Hitchcock with this picture. I kept wondering where the direction of this story was going and I was shocked at the turn of events at the ending. It was a film that had me guessing, at certain points, surprised at other points, but the main feeling was intrigue. I kept wondering what was going to happen next and what each turn of events might mean. The minute that it was over, I am thinking, I don't know if I liked this film or not, but I know I want to watch it again. Like I've already stated, while watching this movie, you get the feeling that something sinister is waiting around the corner, your just not really sure what it is going to be or how it's going to manifest.Sandrine Bonnaire, Isabelle Huppert and Jacqueline Bisset are all excellent in their roles and carry their performances very well. A very intriguing and enigmatic film.