Entre ses mains (2005)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Anne Fontaine

Writers:

Dominique Barbéris (novel)
Julien Boivent (writer)

Release Date:

21 September 2005 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In Lille, Claire Gauthier is an ordinary married woman with a young daughter that works in an insurance company analyzing losses of insured properties...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Flanders | Based On Novel

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Benoît Poelvoorde	...	Laurent Kessler
Isabelle Carré	...	Claire Gauthier
Jonathan Zaccaï	...	Fabrice Gauthier
Valérie Donzelli	...	Valérie
Bernard Bloch	...	Le directeur de la compagnie d'assurances
Véronique Nordey	...	Mme Kessler, la mère de Laurent
Michel Dubois	...	Père Claire
Martine Chevallier	...	Mère Claire
Jean-Chrétien Sibertin-Blanc	...	Le collègue de bureau
Dominique Dubois	...	Mme Gauthier la mère de Fabrice
Patrick Brasseur	...	M. Gauthier, le père de Fabrice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pierre Diot
Sonia Hell
Agathe Louvieaux

Also Known As:

In His Hands (Australia) (TV title)
Les kangourous (France) (working title)

Runtime:

France:90 min

Country:

France | Belgium

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | France:U | Belgium:KT

Filming Locations:

Lille, Nord, France

Company:

Soudaine Compagnie

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France #111393

Goofs:

Continuity: In the last confrontation between Claire and Laurent, his right hand grips Claire's throat when seen from his POV, but when the shot is from behind Claire, his right hand is free.

Quotes:

Valérie: Gee, at times I feel like I'm in a cult!

Movie Connections:

References Le vélo de Ghislain Lambert (2001)

Soundtrack:

J'aime les filles

Fear and Love

In Lille, Claire Gauthier (Isabelle Carré) is an ordinary married woman with a young daughter that works in an insurance company analyzing losses of insured properties. When the single veterinary Laurent Kessler (Benoît Poelvoorde) claims damage in his basement caused by a flooding due to water leakage, Claire resolves the situation favorably for him. The weird Laurent visits Claire in her office successively, inviting her for drinks and lunch, and they get close to each other. Meanwhile, a serial killer is terrorizing Lille, killing women with a scalpel. Claire feels a great attraction for Laurent, who has an unusual behavior in her apartment. When Claire sees a scalpel in the pocket of Laurent's jacket, she fears him, but still loves him.

"Entre Ses Mains" is a weird romance between a common but charming woman that seems to have a perfect marriage and a strange and lonely veterinary. Isabelle Carré and Benoît Poelvoorde have magnificent performances, slowly developing the relationship between Claire and Laurent, with some slight touches of eroticism and tension, but never falling in the easy way of the sadomasochism, as I expected that would happen based on the mixed feelings of fear and love of Claire. There is no explanation for the behavior of Claire, feeling attraction for a man with antagonistic attitudes but only things of love. However, the ambiguous conclusion is a little disappointing. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Em Suas Mãos" ("In Your Hands")