La Femme Infidele
1968
Another suspense classic from French director Claude Chabrol, this taut psychological thriller tells the tale of a contented, middle-class husband (Michel Bouquet) who suspects his seemingly faithful wife (Stephane Audran) of carrying on an affair. He soon becomes consumed with jealousy and hires a private investigator to .. Read more
| Starring | Stephane Audran, Michel Bouquet, Maurice Ronet, Serge Bento |
|---|---|
| Director | Claude Chabrol |
| Genres | Thriller, World Cinema |
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La Femme Infidele
Another suspense classic from French director Claude Chabrol, this taut psychological thriller tells the tale of a contented, middle-class husband (Michel Bouquet) who suspects his seemingly faithful wife (Stephane Audran) of carrying on an affair. He soon becomes consumed with jealousy and hires a private investigator to ascertain his wife's infidelity. When the detective confirms his worst fears, the husband embarks upon a series of events which test the boundaries of his marriage and the extent to which he will go to preserve his privileged lifestyle. Considered by many critics to be one of his best works, LA FEMME INFIDELE showcases Chabrol's signature exploration of the hypocrisies of bourgeois morality while cloaking the proceedings in an atmosphere of unbearable tension and suspense. Recently remade in the USA as UNFAITHFUL, starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere.
| Starring | Stephane Audran, Michel Bouquet, Maurice Ronet, Serge Bento, Michel Duchaussoy, Guy Marly, Stephen Di Napolo |
|---|---|
| Director | Claude Chabrol |
| Studio | ARROW FILMS |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 34 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Thriller, World Cinema |
| Language | French |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 23 Aug 2004 Production year: 1968 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Director Claude Chabrol's masterly thriller stars the stunning Stéphane Audran as the unfaithful wife of the title, whose husband kills her lover, hides him in the boot of his car, then dumps him in a lake. Owing much to Hitchcock (the disposal of the body recalls Psycho), this is an elegant, tense and wickedly funny satire on the middle classes, performed to perfection by Audran, Michel Bouquet as the jealous and decidedly creepy husband, and Maurice Ronet as the doomed lover. This was the first in a magnificent run of thrillers from Chabrol in which the main characters were always called Charles and Hélène.
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"...Chabrol displays an irresistible logic and ironic humour that never gets in the way of the horrific implications of the story..."
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Most helpful member's review
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
boring
It's slow, nothing happens and then there is a murder and then ... nothing again.
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- Chantal
- Posted 14 Feb 2006 13:55
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Most recent members' review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
A Class Act of Murder
The slowest of slow-burning thrillers - more of a study in character than a straightforward thriller. The subtleties of performance and the lack of external emotion in these characters' lives makes it feel more English than French. Respectable middle class Parisian, Michel Bouquet suspects his wife, Stephane Audran, of having an affair and eventually has his suspicions proven. So far, so French; however, the nuances of restricted emotion and the lack of visible passion make this a film where the real emotion and character motivation are all under the surface. Feels a bit like Brief Encounter with just a splash of blood. The longeurs are occasionally a little too long but the film holds the attention for most of its 94 minutes. You do want to know how it all turns out.
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Another suspense classic from French director Claude Chabrol, this taut psychological thriller tells the tale of a contented, middle-class husband (Michel Bouquet) who suspects his seemingly faithful ... -