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Old 01.31.2014, 04:19 PM   #17816
MellySingsDoom
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An overall decent 90's effort from Chabrol here, in his film which follows a pair of lovers as their relationship becomes increasingly dysfunctional and twisted. Emmanuelle Beart and Francois Cluzet play the couple in question, and Cluzet becomes ever-more jealous and antagonistic, as he becomes overwhelmed with jealousy and paranoia at his belief of Beart's alleged infidelities. The film climaxes with Cluzet losing his mind, and imagining that he has "saved" his lover, whilst obsessing over images of his belief of her cheating on him.

The film is essentially set within a couple of locations, and this helps build up the increasing claustrophobia within "L'Enfer". Both Beart and Cluzet acquit themselves well in this one, with the disintegration of their relationship coming across convincingly. Nicely shot, and well paced, this comes across as a decent study in the failure of two people to understand each other both intimately and emotionally.

I do take one issue with this, though: the scene in which Beart is examined by her GP, following an incident of non-consensual sex, suddenly turns around on her, as the GP's initial caring and concern for her turns to moral disgust, as he seems to believe Cluzet's accusatory statments re. her having affairs. Not only does this scene not work at all (it comes across as very lumpy and disjointed), it also leaves a sour taste in one's mouth, as to victims of sexual assault not being believed at the drop of a pin. A rather big flaw in an otherwise convincing film for me.

"L'Enfer" is certainly worth a viewing, and is overall a fine film, but viewer be warned of the afore-mentioned scene.
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