Cinema giants Jean-Pierre Melville (UN FLIC) and Jean Cocteau (LA BELLE AT LA BETE) collaborated to create LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES, a stunning portrait of surreal perversion and narcissism based on Cocteau's novel of the same name. When teenage Paul, the fragile protagonist, is mysteriously felled by a powerful snowball thrown by .. Read more
| Starring | Nicole Stephane, Edouard Dhermitte, Renee Cosima |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Pierre Melville |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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Cinema giants Jean-Pierre Melville (UN FLIC) and Jean Cocteau (LA BELLE AT LA BETE) collaborated to create LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES, a stunning portrait of surreal perversion and narcissism based on Cocteau's novel of the same name. When teenage Paul, the fragile protagonist, is mysteriously felled by a powerful snowball thrown by his dastardly and handsome idol, Dargelos, he returns home to recuperate under the unwilling care of his irascible sister, Elisabeth. The two share a bedroom in the home of their ailing mother. Within the their bedroom, the siblings have constructed a private universe of erotically charged jokes, elaborate rituals, and coded behaviour sealing them off from the rest of the world. When their mother unexpectedly dies Paul and Elisabeth spiral even further into their own world, with Paul's fragile condition keeping him from returning to school. The incestuous undertones and poisonous ambiance are further complicated as Paul and Elisabeth are joined first by Paul's friend Gerard, who is obsessed with Elisabeth, and finally by Agathe, Elisabeth's colleague who is the spitting image of Paul's nemesis Dargelos. As the diabolical Elisabeth becomes unable to hide her dangerous love for Paul, the film heads for its high-pitched climax. Cocteau's tale of sublimation and deception comes to life under Melville's lucid direction.
| Starring | Nicole Stephane, Edouard Dhermitte, Renee Cosima |
|---|---|
| Director | Jean-Pierre Melville |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 42 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: French |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | Production year: 1949 To Rent: DVD: 30 Aug 2004 |
- 7
- 0
Creative Schizophrenia
For all its many splendours, this Melville film of a Cocteau novel suffers from a malady I can only describe as 'creative schizophrenia.' It is ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 2
- 0
Poor subtitling?
While bursting with cinematic flair and containing some wonderful moments (not least the thrilling finale), this film suffers badly from some under-worked and ... read more »
- 1
- 0
Happy families
This film was a joy to watch. Any outline of the plot would make it sound like Hitchcock, but this is to miss out on the mood of the film. There is a childlike ... read more »
- 0
- 3
Tedious drivel
Fans of JP Melville beware! This is more like a Jean Cocteau film at his worst.
I don't know why it's considered a classic, the acting is ... read more »
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