Elles n'oublient jamais

Don't get me wrong, this film is not spectacular or awe-inspiring or inspirational in any way. BUT despite the barrier of a foreign language it manages to entertain and entertain well. The suspense is kept up throughout the film by a combination of exceptional acting and a slightly overdone score. The main problem is that this story is not exactly original... still an enjoyable film however

For a French film this is more mainstream than the offbeat, edgy title suggests. If you are expecting a clever, Charbrolesque thriller - be very disappointed.Conversely, this is a would-be Hitchcock thriller that feels more like Brian De Palma's worse efforts. The protagonist, seduced and tormented by the femme fatale, is very unlikeable and it is therefore difficult to summon any interest in his plight, given his flaws and bad taste in women! At times, the film has a late-night cable ambiance which seems odd considering its pretensions as a Hitchcockian thriller. Sadly, this film was a missed opportunity - a futile attempt to make mainstream French thrillers to French audiences who already are familiar with this genre.

A short investigation in the IMDb shows that this was the last film of director and writer Christopher Frank, who died before the filmed was released. I do not remember having seen anything by him before, but judging after this film the cinematic loss is especially of a remarkable script writer.

The story is of a business man (married plus one), who starts flirting and having a non satisfying affaire with a beautiful woman he meets out of his office. It turns quickly in a blackmail and murder story, reminding Hitchcok's movies. The problem is that the directing is also from Hitchcok's period minus the genius of the suspense master. Good acting and especially the well written story line keeps the viewer awake, but the movie is still much less then it could be.

With the trend of French film scripts being bought by US studios and re-made in big Hollywood flicks, I would not be amazed that the same happens with this well-written story. In this case the US version has good chances to be a better film than the French original... I can already see Richard Gere, Nicole Kidman, and Denise Richards as the stars of the remake ;-) Anybody in Hollywood reading IMDb?