Chère inconnue

I'm not much of a fan of melodramas. Most movies in that genre leave me indifferent at best, and unwillingly amuse me in the worst cases. However, there are exceptions, and in those cases the effect may be the opposite. In rare cases, in quality movies, the melodramatic effect works very well for me. This is the case of 'Chère inconnue', a film made in 1980 by Israeli director Moshé Mizrahi, during the French period of his career, bringing to screen a novel written by Bernice Rubens, and starring three of the most formidable actors in French cinema at the time. The very uninspired English title under which the film was distributed was 'I Sent a Letter to My Love'.

The story takes place somewhere near Brest, in a house on a cliff on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, which could very well be the setting for a thriller directed by Hitchcock. By the way, I think that the master of suspense would have liked this story. Louise (Simone Signoret) and Gilles Martin (Jean Rochefort) are a sister and brother, 50+ years old, living together. He is disabled since childhood, she dedicated her life to his care. Yvette (Delphine Seyrig), who is their close friend, brings them fresh bread every morning and discusses the day's news with them. None of the three are married, life almost passed near them, but the flames of their passions are not completely extinguished. When Louise tries to find - using an imaginary identity - a sentimental relationship, using the ads in the newspaper publicity, she is surprised that the one who answers is Gilles. An aparent idyll flourishes in the correspondence between the two, which becomes more and more dangerous, especially after Gilles wants to meet personally the mysterious stranger with whom he had begun to fall in love.

A side comment. This film, made in 1980, is one of those that highlight the huge changes brought about by mobile telephony and the Internet in the way of inter-human communication. The relationship advertising in newspapers, the letters sent in envelopes, the mailboxes (made of tin!) and the 'post restante' mail at the post office have almost completely disappeared from our lives in less than a generation. If it were made today, the screenwriters of this film would have to completely rethink these details.

The story works well thanks to the intelligent, sensitive and humanly credible script and the exceptional acting performances. A real storm of feelings develops between the three characters. Behind the appearances of quiet, banal and conventional lives there is friendship, true love, and carnal passion. But nothing is declarative, spoken words do not express feelings, and even the words written under the cover of anonymity do not reveal everything that happens in the depths of souls. The melodramatic part is excellently dosed, and the tension of the relations between the characters sometimes reaches the thriller genre. Simone Signoret and Delphine Seyrig create two of the best roles of the mature periods of their careers. However, they are topped by Jean Rochefort, an actor of great finesse and with a special character and culture, who did not always have the chance to be distributed in roles up to his immense talent. Here he has the opportunity to show everything he can and knows, and he does it masterfully. Director Moshé Mizrahi proves with this film that he was one of the valuable filmmakers of his generation, despite the fact that his filmography, developed on three continents, did not have many peaks. No doubt, 'Chère inconnue' is one of them.

I am forever intrigued as to how widely film makers spread their nets in order to find material. Here we have an adaptation of the novel 'I sent a letter to my love' by Welsh-born Booker Prize winner Bernice Rubens with the setting changed from Porthcawl to Brittany and in which the characters of dowdy spinster Amy, her crippled brother Stan and their friendly neighbour Gywneth have become Louise, Gilles and Yvette.

Bernice Rubens was renowned for bringing out the extraordinary in ordinary lives and who better to realise this than the truly extraordinary talents of Simone Signoret, Jean Rochefort and Delphine Seyrig. The dynamic between these consummate professionals is a joy to behold and each characterisation is of the utmost subtlety. Wonderful also to see veteran Madeleine Ozeray in a touching cameo as an elderly woman who visits her local poste restante each day hoping to receive a letter from a beau she has not seen for thirty years.

Simone Signoret and director Moshé Mizrahi had scored a palpable hit three years earlier with 'Madame Rosa'. Second collaborations are apt to be something of a let down but this one, in its own quiet way, packs just as big a punch.

An unforgettable film in the way it explores a quiet sense of longing.

I saw I Sent a Letter to My Love so many years ago when it first came out. And it is one of those movies that will haunt you years after you've seen it.

Louise (Simone Signoret) and Gilles (Jean Rochefort) are two older, single siblings, he crippled and in a wheel chair. They are living together in their parents house with little to do other than talking and bickering with each other. They're joined each morning by Yvette (Delphine Seyrig), the daughter of the baker, who come to deliver their daily bread.

Then one day Louise decides to place a lonely hearts ad in the local paper. Much to her surprise and initial humor, she gets a reply from her own brother. From there, matters just unfold as the two, one knowingly and the other not, start a rather torrid correspondence.

The film is simple in its setting, on the beautiful French coast and in the simple home of Louise and Gille, while being extremely deep in a visual manner of exploring longing in those who have many regrets or unrealized expectations. Signoret is breathtaking in her appearance and her acting while she is fully supported by outstanding work from Rochefort and Seyrig.

Quite simply a stunning film.

..waiting to be discovered .A story about people who are getting old and who try to begin a brand new life by corresponding with someone with whom they might have "possibly more".The threesome Simone Signoret/Jean Rochefort/Delphine Seyrig shines all along the movie.Seyrig finds here her best part since "the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie ".She was a magical actress ,sadly missed.So was Signoret.The screenplay was written by excellent Gerard Brach,who often wrote in collaboration with Polanski or Annaud ("l'ours").Moshé Mizrahi had already directed Signoret in a memorable "Madame Rosa ".The high rating the movie enjoys on the site proves that there's sometimes justice in the universe.

If one looks closely at the history of French cinema, it will be revealed that the famous actor Jean Rochefort has not got his proper dues. It is true that due to the lack of star appeal, he has never been hailed as a movie star. Whatever one feels, Jean Rochefort shines a lot in supporting roles or character roles. Look for films like "Le Mari de la coiffeuse" and "L'homme du train" made by Patrice Leconte. "Chère Inconnue" directed by Moshe Mizrahi is one such film which gives ample opportunity to Jean Rochefort to showcase the richness of his acting talents. In this film he is supported by two of the greatest ladies of the French cinema : Delphine Seyrig and Simone Signoret. As "Chère Inconnue" is a family film of excellent emotions, it must only be watched with family members. Just in case if you watch it alone, you would feel a longing for your family. Everyone is going to appreciate the brother, the sister and their beloved. Do let me know when the DVD of this film is made available with English subtitles.