"Torrents" main interest lies more in its form than in its content;the screenplay is pure Harlequin romance,complete with scenes in a castle where the guests go riding in the country,in Africa where the hero is a physician who takes care of the poor natives,in Savoie,where accidents happen (mountain climbing is not recommended when you are in love with your best friend's cousin -and fiancée-).Plus a dash of "Rebecca" (but a living Rebecca ,which makes the matters worse)thrown in for good measure.
The form is really bizarre with plenty of flashbacks,some in the past tense ,some in the past perfect ,depicting the childhood of Yann and Sigrid,à la "Peter Ibbetson" ,but without Hathaway's talent.Also handicapped by unattractive listless Helen Vita's poor acting ,as the unfortunate wife by default.Had the director focused on the Marchal/Faure couple,he could have succeeded in portraying l'Amour Fou à la "Wuthering Heights" ,in spite of the mediocre material he was given by the writers.
