The Woman with Leopard Shoes

Having found out about the event thanks to joining the online Frightfest last year, I took a look at the Frightfest section for the 2021 Glasgow Film Festival. Deciding to go for the two French titles,I got set to meet a woman wearing leopard shoes.

Note:Review contains some plot details.

View on the film:

Revealing in a interview after the screening/stream that this is the first in a trilogy, (with the second about to start filming)and that the title was shot in his parents house, composer/editor/ cinematographer/writer/director Alexis Bruchon makes a ultra-stylised big screen debut by transferring his skills as a illustrator to Film Noir.

Featuring just a handful of lines and spending 70 of the 80 minute run time in one room, Bruchon digs into the crisp black and white Noir fear gripping The Burgler (played by Bruchon's brother Paul) of being discovered in the room,with slick whip-pans dissolving into close-ups on the unnamed figure uncovering clues in the study on why he was hired for the robbery, as silhouettes from the curtains,and distorted faces from the keyhole surround him.

Whilst dipping a bit too easily in The Burgler getting into txt exchanges with the unseen woman, Bruchon makes up for the messaging with a excellent, atmospheric textured soundtrack,which fills the silence with Neo-Noir Jazz grinding into distorted mumbling from the next room and echoing footsteps,from the woman with leopard shoes.