Summary
Julie Ballenger has spent the last five years in a psychiatric clinic. Leaving the
clinic, apparently cured, she is engaged by a wealthy industrialist, Mostri, to work as
a governess to his young nephew, Thomas. The boy is heir to a huge fortune after
the recent death of his wealthy parents, in mysterious circumstances. During
a visit to a park, Julie and Thomas are kidnapped at gun-point and driven away to deserted
quarry. The two hostages manage to escape, but are closely pursued by an armed killer...
Review
A full decade before Claude Berri’s film Jean de Florette (and the Stella Artois
ads it inspired) turned an extract from Verdi’s opera The Force of Destiny into
a cliché for French provincial life, Yves Boisset used the same theme to introduce
his thriller Folle à tuer - probably with greater effect.
This film, a faithful adaptation of Jean-Patrick Manchette’s novel, is a tense, fast-moving
thriller-drama, with fine characterisation and a satisfying twist at the end - in short,
a perfect example of the French thriller or polar français.
The film’s strength lies partly in its acting performances - Marlène Jobert is
superb as the vulnerable Julie - but also in its plotting and realisation. There
is a palpable sense of menace throughout the film, and the chase sequence is brilliantly
executed.
However, Boisset’s masterstroke is using Verdi’s music - it seems to fit so perfectly
and adds greatly to the atmosphere.
© James Travers 2000
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