:
Stéphane Audran,
Stéphane Audran,
Jean-Pierre Cassel,
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:
Claude Chabrol,
Claude Chabrol
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: Not Rated
: Pathfinder Home Ent.
: Foreign, Politics and Social Issues, France
: 120 min.
: Spanish, French
: English
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Based on a novel by Charlotte Armstrong, the story concerns Helene (Stephane Audran), the wife of a hopeless would-be writer and drug addict. Her husband's best friend tries to lay a trap for Helene, so that she will be forced to pay dearly for a divorce settlement. Also conspiring against Helene is her father-in-law, who wishes to wrest her child away from her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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| Smashing
by talltale
April 28, 2005 - 7:14 AM PDT
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4 out of 5 members found this review helpful
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What a treat to finally see LA RUPTURE (which I am not certain was ever released in this country) some 35 years after its debut. Claude Chabrol has long been a favorite director of mine, particularly his films from the 60s and 70s--many of which starred his wife Stephane Audran. She is at her best (and most beautiful) in this fascinating mystery that shows how amazingly simple it is to destroy someone's character, particularly when that someone is a decent and trusting woman. The rest of the cast comprises many of the lights of French cinema from this period, and it's a pleaure to see them all again--young, vital and supremely talented.
The movie begins with what is one of the more disturbing scenes in all film history. If you are not utterly jolted and hooked, I'll be surprised. The film has, as do many of Chabrol's, lots of coincidence and some melodrama that borders on the unintentionally funny. But mostly, this is prime mystery-cum-social critique--of the very rich who abuse their power, as well as the bourgeoisie, with their tiny minds and morals. This one's a "must" for French film fans, particularly those whose adult film education began in the 60s. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.97)
31 Votes
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