The Bridesmaid
DIR Claude Chabrol | France | 2004 | 141min
In French with English subtitles.
SHOWTIMES:
Fri. Sep 30 | 9:30pm | Ridge Theatre
Sun. Oct 2 | 2:00pm | Granville 7 Theatre 4
Mon. Oct 10 | 4:00pm | Visa Screening Room @Vogue
Reviewed by Hugo Passarello Luna
A master of suspense, legendary French director Claude Chabrol brings a new story full of enigmas, passion and death.
Set in a small suburban town not far from Paris, the film centres around a sympathetic middle class family (with no father).
Philippe (Benoît Magimel), the oldest son, is the perfect example of what a son should be: hard working, nice, honest, adored by all his clients, praised by the boss. His two younger sisters, however, are not like him. One just wants to get married and the other is a rebellious teenager. Michel’s mother is a loving and naïve lady who tries to makes ends meet and fails. Accordingly, Michel always has to lend her money. Chabrol sets this scenario for us and, slowly and with the utmost subtlety, he shakes it up and down.
It is the bridesmaid at Michel’s sister wedding, Senta (Laura Smet), who triggers everything. She is a beautiful, mysterious woman that conquers Michel’s love. Chabrol offers us an excellently portrayed psychotic in Laura; her love can only be proved through death: “To prove that you love me, you will have to kill for me.” For us, as for Michel, these are strange words, taken with a level of skepticism.
Soon, however, we become witnesses to Michel’s involuntary change.
On the same date that his rebel sister ends up at the police station, Michel the perfect son will stop being so perfect. Unable to control the circumstances, Michel slowly sinks into unknown depths. Chabrol displays the fatality of our destinies and our powerlessness in facing any situation.