I think one can say without fear of contradiction that Patricia Highsmith was a deeply complex individual with more than her fair share of demons. Her spectacles were never rose-coloured and her gripping tales featuring deeply flawed, morally vacuous, sociopathic characters have proved to be manna from heaven for film directors notably Hitchcock, Clement and Chabrol.
This adaptation of her fifth novel 'Deep Water' is directed by Michel Deville.
This film slowly drew me in and held my attention although M. Deville's rather tasteful and measured directorial style would seem to lack the 'edge' required for this sort of material. Where it does have the advantage is in the casting of Jean-Louis Trintignant and Isabelle Huppert as Vic and Melanie. He is the outwardly complaisant husband and she is the notoriously flirtatious wife who rubs his nose in it. He resolves to kill one of her paramours but of course one murder is never enough.........
Trintignant, with his unruffled exterior concealing the turmoil within and Huppert with her combination of vulnerability and almost cruel impassivity, are tremendous and their dynamic is mesmerising. The supporting players alas are not up to much but mention must be made of splendid Sandrine Kljajic as their young daughter whose childlike innocence gives the film a balance. The relationship between father and daughter is beautifully drawn. In one scene his bedtime story is that of Samson and Delilah!
Deville utilises his favoured editor Raymonde Guyot and Manuel de Falla's Concerto pour Clavicin is cleverly employed.
The subtle ending with its family reconciliation is filmically effective but the author's original ending would have packed a far greater punch.
Deville must have felt deflated by the films failure to make an impact but he hit the bullseye four years later with his critically and commercially successful 'Péril en la Demeure'. Still tasteful but this time with an edge!
