Stille Wasser

"Eaux Profondes" is based on a Patricia Highsmith novel, but to the book-illiterate it may look more like an unofficial remake of Claude Chabrol's "La Femme Infidele" (although the book came out in 1957 and Chabrol's film in 1969, making you rethink who influenced whom first). It is a calm, dispassionate story about infidelity, jealousy, and murder, with some interesting transitions by director Michel Deville and two excellent leads: Jean-Louis Trintignant (he's at his best when he puts on a wolfish smile) and a young, frequently nude Isabelle Huppert. But it is also repetitive, feeling longer than it is (93 minutes), without enough psychological depth. Also the music score sometimes gets too loud and annoying. ** out of 4.

Deville was the perfect director for such light gallantries such as "Benjamin"(1968).And what about Highsmith? Patricia Highsmith 's books are deceptive:it is hard to adapt them badly for the screen while being harder still to adapt them well.To my eyes ,one director has succeeded :Alfred Hitchcock ("Strangers on a train" ),three have partially succeeded (René Clément "Monsieur Ripley" (the talented M.Ripley) Anthony Minghella (its remake) and Wim Wenders 's "Der Amerikanische Freund " (Ripley's game) .Claude Chabrol was not so successful with "cry of the owl".Claude Miller butchered the brilliant "that sweet sickness" (="Dites lui que je l'aime") "Eaux profondes" is intense psychological drama.The story of a man who is jealous and kills all his wife's lovers.He warns them before .Trintignant,a good choice,tells them so: "I kill them" in a smooth voice .He treats his wife like a big doll,the scene is the bathroom is telling.

There was in Highsmith's book an atmosphere ,a terrible progression which led to madness:the film has a tendency to simplify too much and its main drawback is to be too short.

When she was interviewed when the movie was released,Highsmith told the journalists she had appreciated the movie.Make up your own mind about it.

I discover again this Michel Deville's film, my favorite, showing a scheme rarely used before, except maybe in some anthology shows such as ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS or any other series of this kind and period. Jean-Louis Trintignant and Isabelle Huppert steal the show with their performances. Just enjoy this French piece of jewellery from the early eighties. It is so intriguing, so riveting, that it doesn't need any suspense. Actually the suspense exists from the very beginning. François Truffaut could have made it, I guess. If you are a man and a jealous husband, try to wacch this film. A real must.

Classic French art-house mystery thriller for the wine n cheese crowd. Young trophy bride (Huppert) flirts and attracts numerous young swains. Husband warns each of possible consequences. Those who heed, flee. Those who abide, however ... Challenging in that the viewer never knows the relationship between husband and wife, or how much friends and neighbors (island of Jersey) turn a blind eye to Measured pace (for modern viewers, read slow) that delivers unexpected jolts. Warning, there is violence in this film, and it bursts seemingly out of nowhere. Jean-Louis Trintignant unforgettable as the multi-layered husband. Based on Patricia Highsmith (Ripley stories) novel.

This is the second Michel Deville's movie i watch. First one (Death in a french garden) was a great movie (8/10). This one is definitely lesser. Characters are totally unlikeable but it's not necessarily a bad thing, i mean, there are many movies in which noone is to root for but still, they are good/great movies. Unfortunately, characters were not only unlikeable but a bit bland too. Both Huppert and Trintignant are charismatic and gifted actors but they couldn't turn this into a very good movie. Still, it was enjoyable and entertaining. Trintignant was convincing enough, i understood his character and his motives even though he was not a good guy here. I was curious to see where it goes and it was not boring. However, it was not that interesting either. And the ending was even more bland than the rest of the movie.

Watch it if you like this genre. This is a drama/romance movie first of all. Cold and dry. The crime element is secondary.