This obscure psychological drama is a film simply crying out for a DVD transfer. It's one that would really justify some loving care and it should really be available in a cleaned-up widescreen print. Its retitled name, The Chambermaid's Dream, is quite senseless. The original title 'Frustration' is much more meaningful. It's a pretty small-scale drama about a doctor, his wife and her sister who all live together in a remote house in a snowy landscape. The sister is a psychologically damaged woman with issues about sex. She begins having sexual fantasies involving her sister and brother-in-law. These become more and more sadomasochistic as the story progresses.
It's these fantasy sequences that elevate this feature to a higher level. They are beautifully photographed, with excellent sinister musical accompaniment. There is a definite foreboding atmosphere throughout the picture but it's these erotic daydreams that top things off. The film stars Janine Reynaud in the role of the repressed sister. She starred in several cult Euro flicks from the time such as The Case of the Scorpion's Tail and Human Cobras but of all her roles this is probably her best. She's very good and convinces as the troubled central character. The movie in general has a pretty decent level of acting and script, with several references to contemporary politics and current affairs. This, combined with the stylish erotic sequences makes for a pretty superior effort overall. It has the pastel colour schemes and slightly down-beat feel that differentiates French films from, say, Italian equivalents but this works to the story's benefit and fits in with its somewhat classy brand of erotica.
