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Les Biches on DVD (1968)

Les Biches cover art
Average rating: 62%
2121082091825
3.0
from 129 members
 
Starring: Stephane Audran, Jacqueline Sassard, Jean-Louis Trintignant
Director: Claude Chabrol
Studio: ARROW FILMS
Run time: 95 mins
Certificate: 15
User collections: 50 auteurs, 50 great films
Genres: Drama, World Cinema
Languages: French
Subtitles: English
Released: 07/06/2004

Brief synopsis of Les Biches

Claude Chabrol crafts a complex social allegory in LES BICHES, a subtle and intricate tale of desire, despair, and murder. Released in March of 1968, just months before the May 1968 student revolts in Paris, Chabrol filtered the ever-increasing class struggle in France into the compelling tale of glamorous Frederique (Stephane Audran), who picks up poverty-stricken and beautiful Why on the streets of Paris, promptly seducing her and whisking her away to a new life of wealthy bohemia in St. Tropez. As Why quickly assumes the role of Frederique's protegee and understudy, a complication arrives in the form of Paul (Jean-Louis Trintignant), a handsome young architect with whom Why immediately falls into unrequited love. Frederique confronts the interloper herself, falls in love with him, and jets off to Paris with him, leaving Why to stew in her rejection and abandonment. The suspense builds slowly when the three lovers forge a strange and erotically charged circular relationship. The decor of Frederique's Cote D'azur villa, filled with hunting memorabilia, weapons, and muted colours, heightens the tense and underlying power struggle that slowly propels Why to obsession and madness in the film's haunting and detached climax.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

New Wave director Claude Chabrol entered a new phase — which would ultimately lead to such masterpieces as Le Boucher — with this cool study of a ménage à trois between rich lesbian Stéphane Audran, her penniless young plaything Jacqueline Sassard, and handsome architect Jean-Louis Trintignant. Set on the Riviera, the movie has a marvellously fluid style that matches the seesawing sexuality of the characters and builds towards a startling climax. The picture is also a showcase for Audran, who was then Chabrol's wife and the star of most of his major films.

Time Out

The film with which Chabrol returned to 'serious' film-making after his series of delightful thriller/espionage spoofs,... Read more on www.timeout.com

Rating of 2 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Fascinating and well-detailed character study with more depth than at first appears.

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 2 starsBadly aged

Chantal Chantal [Highly rated reviewer] , 08/12/2005

Don't bother, the pace is slow and the story dull.

  3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsOverlong 1970's cigarette ad

A customer from London , 13/10/2004

So stylised that the characters must have difficulty breathing, this offers an interesting insight into French para-avant-garde cinema. The tension between the two female protagonists struggles to break through their emotional detachment and failed (in my case) to command attention until the end of the film.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsUnrealistic but keeps you interested

nicky81 from London , 04/03/2005

The characters in this film and the way they related to each other were so unrealistic it was annoying but I found myself really wanting to know how it was going to end.

This film will hold your interest as long as you can put all thoughts of "this would never happen" out of your head.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsThe Memory Fades

A customer from Hampton Hill , 23/01/2005

Well...the movie I remember from some distant part of the 60's wasn't this one. That one was interesting, new, refreshing. Well that's how it seemed then. Hasn't aged well and is incomprehensible today. Only for the film buffs.

  1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 2 starsUnrealistic but keeps you interested

nicky81 from London , 04/03/2005

The characters in this film and the way they related to each other were so unrealistic it was annoying but I found myself really wanting to know how it was going to end.

This film will hold your interest as long as you can put all thoughts of "this would never happen" out of your head.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 2 starsBadly aged

Chantal Chantal [Highly rated reviewer] , 08/12/2005

Don't bother, the pace is slow and the story dull.

  3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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