Summary
Upset when her lover loses interest in her, a society lady, Helène, determines
to have her revenge. She contrives for him to meet and fall in love with a former
caberet dancer, Agnès, a woman who, unbeknown to Jean, has a reputation as a prostitute.
Agnès, tired of men, is living in seclusion with her mother near the Bois du Bologne
in Paris, and initially spurns Jean’s advances. Over time, Jean’s persistence manages
to win him Agnès’ affections and the two decide to marry. After the wedding,
Helène claims her revenge by revealing Agnès’ unsavoury past to Jean.
Review
Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne is an unusual film for director Robert Bresson, primarily
because it adheres, more than any of his other films, to the film-making conventions of
the day. As a consequence, the film is more accessible than some of his subsequent
works but, lacking Bresson’s idiosyncrasies and religious symbolism, seems to have less
of an impact. Nonetheless this is a commendable film and it is reputed to have had
a great influence on the New Wave directors such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc
Godard.
The most striking thing about the film is the characterisation, the emphasis of good and
evil, achieved through some fine acting and careful lighting. Maria Casarès is
so obviously wicked as the vindictive Helène that it is surprising her ex-lover
and her soi-disant protegée, Agnès, cannot see through her evil schemes.
This serves to highlight the apparent goodness in the targets of her spite, Jean and Agnès,
neither of whom is a particular angel of virtue. The placing of inherently good
characters in a morally corrupt setting is a recurring theme in Bresson's later films.
The film is a very perceptive study of the power of revenge and the strength of true love.
We can understand and sympathise with Helène’s behaviour even though her objective
is thoroughly cruel. She is portrayed every much a victim as Jean and Agnès
and, in the end she is the one that loses out. Jean’s infatuation with Agnès
is proven to derive from a love that not only conquers the former dancer’s ambivalence
but thwarts Helène’s evil schemes and offers Agnès the chance of a new life.
The story of a cheated lover taking her revenge is as old as antiquity. However,
Bresson’s treatment of the subject is striking in its depth of character analysis.
The result is a very moving piece of cinema.
© James Travers 2000
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