Vipère au poing (2004)

Director:

Philippe de Broca

Writers:

Hervé Bazin (novel)
Philippe de Broca (writer)

Release Date:

6 October 2004 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Cast

Catherine Frot	...	Paule "Folcoche" Rézeau
Jacques Villeret	...	Jacques Rézeau
Jules Sitruk	...	Jean Rézeau
Cherie Lunghi	...	Miss Chilton
Hannah Taylor-Gordon	...	Fine
Richard Bremmer	...	L'abbé Traquet
Sabine Haudepin	...	Tante Thérèse
William Touil	...	Ferdinand "Freddie" Rézeau
Wojciech Pszoniak	...	Le père Volitza
Pierre Stévenin	...	Marcel
Annick Alane	...	Mme Rézeau
Paul Le Person	...	Le père Létendard
Alexia Barlier	...	Kitty
Amélie Lerma	...	Henriette
Dominique Paturel	...	M. Pluvignec

Also Known As:

Viper in the Fist (UK)

Runtime:

Argentina:100 min | France:100 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Brittany, France

Company:

Angoa-Agicoa

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation France # 106220 du 19-10-2004.

Movie Connections:

Version of Vipère au poing (1971) (TV)

Incredibly evil mother

Vipère au poing (2004) (Viper in the Fist) was co-scripted and directed by Philippe de Broca. The story is based on a novel by Hervé Bazin. I saw this movie at the 2005 Cinefranco Film Festival in Toronto. (www.cinefranco.com)

Jean and Freddie are growing up in a château, under the loving care of their paternal grandmother. When she dies, their father returns from Vietnam with their mother and their young brother.

Within minutes, their mother displays her true colors, and within days she's made their life hell. Catherine Frot plays Paule Rézeau, who in a fairy tale would be the evil stepmother. Unfortunately, she's their biological mother, who totally dominates the boys, their father (played well by the late Jacques Villeret), and the entire household.

The chilling nature of this film stems not only from from maternal hatred, but from the fact that the boys are obviously good kids. They are prepared to love their mother and their brother, and to behave in an acceptable--even admirable--fashion.

Unfortunately, their situation leaves no room for maternal-child affection. What develops is open warfare on the mother's side, and guerrilla warfare on the part of the boys. The middle brother, Jean (Jules Sitruk) is particularly dedicated to opposing his mother's tyranny, and he's very good at it.

The movie has scenes that are humorous, and some warm and touching moments between father and sons, but the basic tone is dark and menacing. It's not a warm movie that will leave you with a glow of contentment, but it's well written, directed, and acted, and definitely worth seeing.