Summary
Alice is an aspiring artist living in Paris with her boyfriend, Franck, a boxer.
Her life is upturned when her sister, Elsa, unexpectedly re-enters her life after several
years of separation. Much to Franck’s chagrin, the kindly Alice allows Elsa to stay
with her in her attic apartment, knowing that she has no desire to return to her cheating
husband, Thomas. Immediately Elsa starts to repay her sister by playing a cruel
mind game, in which she tries to persuade Franck that Alice is dangerously insane...
Review
Acclaimed feminist director Diane Kurys ventures into new territory with this uncomfortable
melange of romantic drama and psychological thriller, a daring attempt to explore the
complexities of the relationship between two estranged sisters. Whilst Kurys’ perspective
of female bonding and menage-à-trois game-playing is, as ever, insightful and well-developed,
her efforts are sorely abused by her casting decisions. Anne Parillaud may have
been stunning in the role of Nikita in Luc Besson’s 1990 thriller, but she appears frankly
bored and unconvincing in Kurys’ film.
Fortunately, Béatrice Dalle just about manages to save the film and Kurys’ efforts
are not entirely wasted. Dalle’s ability to play slightly unhinged or emotionally
traumatised women convincingly has made her one of France’s most respected and sought
after actresses. In this film, she manages to give a powerful and engaging performance,
in spite of the somewhat artificial nature of the plot, some poor scripting, and being
saddled with a supporting cast who appear to be acting in an altogether different kind
of film.
© James Travers 2003
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