Gabrielle (2005)

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Patrice Chéreau (written by) &
Anne-Louise Trividic (written by) ...

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The marriage between Gabrielle and Jean begins to fray after the discovery of a letter that belongs to Gabrielle.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Letter | Marriage | Broken Glass | Wine

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Isabelle Huppert	...	Gabrielle Hervey
Pascal Greggory	...	Jean Hervey
Claudia Coli	...	Yvonne
Thierry Hancisse	...	The Editor-in-Chief
Chantal Neuwirth	...	Madeleine
Thierry Fortineau	...	Guest
Louise Vincent	...	Guest
Clément Hervieu-Léger	...	Guest
Nicolas Moreau	...	Guest
Rinaldo Rocco	...	The Consul
Xavier Lafitte	...	Guest
Maï David	...	Maid
Jeanne Herry	...	Maid
Aude Léger	...	Maid
Raina Kabaivanska	...	La cantatrice

Also Known As:

Gabrielle - Liebe meines Lebens (Germany)
Trois soirées (France) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

France | Italy | Germany

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White | Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Belgium:KT | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Australia:M

Company:

Azor Films

Signe, Gabrielle Chilled on the Rocks

I've been watching & thoroughly enjoying Isabelle Huppert's films since 'The Lacemaker'. This time, what struck me was the intensity of Huppert's next-to-passive, almost casually indifferent postures of contempt for her husband. It is because of her being so minimal and apathetic that her performance harnesses its power and devastation. And this is what enhances Greggory's reactive performance as being so complementary, that of a once smug now tortured soul who slips and struggles to re-grasp a heart turned cold. He's just left grabbing air in the end. The looks on the faces of the chorus, their social clique & the servants in the troubled Hervey household says it all.

Going in, I was reminded of another story of martial discord, David Hughes Jone's 'Betrayal' but 'Gabrielle' hit me as being more incisive and oppressive than anything I've seen adapted for Pinter. I don't need to state the obvious that parlor films of this variety appeal only to those with an acquired taste. As for me, I can only say that I prefer the ice cubes that go with my scotch jagged & stinging cold like the ingredients in this film.