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Monday, September 27, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
Mademoiselle Chambon
Looking For The Comfort, Beauty And Security Of Love
Sandrine Kiberlain as Véronique Chambon and Vincent Lindon as Jean in "Mademoiselle
Chambon", directed by Stéphané Brizé. The film opened recently in San
Francisco and is playing in other select cities in the U.S.
Lorber Films
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Monday,
September 27, 2010
Arguably the most beautiful adult story of the year on film, "Mademoiselle
Chambon" is a quiet tale filled with genteel, sensual passion and a modicum of
tragedy.
Set in France, the film begins on a sunny day with a happy family, including a
precocious, inquisitive son who is reading and interpreting a definition in a
book. This opening scene is the most important of this peaceful,
pedestrian drama because the film, as directed by Stephané Brizé, is all about
definitions and contours, especially as they concern the tender, volatile
boundaries of temptation and desire.
"Mademoiselle Chambon" is the formal name of substitute teacher Véronique
(played exquisitely by Sandrine Kiberlain), who teaches at the elementary school
of Jérémy (Arthur Le Houérou), the aforementioned inquisitive son of Jean
(Vincent Lindon), a builder who helps construct houses. Following
Véronique's invitation to speak before her class, Jean offers to replace a door
in her home.
Tensions inevitably percolate between Jean and Véronique, but as they do
"Mademoiselle Chambon" itself never becomes the melodramatic story it could
have. Disciplined, warm and discreet, the film simply and calmly displays
the internal feelings of these two constrained figures. Véronique is alone
and searching for a man who will take care of her. Jean is married to
Anne-Marie (Aure Atika) but is alone, consumed with the thoughts of an illicit
affair.
In many Hollywood films audiences would be subjected to a justification for the
man or the woman to cheat in a spousal relationship. Here, there is none of
that. Adult realities and complexities alone exist. Anne-Marie has
kept a family together. She's a good mother and wife. Jean is a good
father and husband, but that status threatens to be tested.
All of the adult players in this film are united by sense and sensibility.
The screenplay by Mr. Brizé and Florence Vignon, based on Eric Holder's novel,
is equally smart and rich with irony and metaphor. The film contains some
sublime visual affectations: in particular the way the door frame plays a role
aesthetically in the film's final shot. It's a poetic moment consistent
with Mr. Brizé's careful and sensitive direction of the entire film.
There's also a feeling and mood in "Mademoiselle Chambon" that is reminiscent of
such Eric Rohmer films as "Chloe In The Afternoon" or "Claire's Knee". Mr.
Rohmer was a master at the morality play and he would no doubt have appreciated
Mr. Brizé's film.
The chemistry between Ms. Kiberlain and Mr. Lindon is excellent. Their
characters are tentative players bound by the strictures of moral instruction or
at the very least, moral expectation. One is a children's teacher who
knows clearly right from wrong. The other is a builder who cements
foundations. Both are symbolically sturdy characters yet their hearts are
anything but tranquil. Ms. Kiberlain plays Véronique as a delicate flower
whose heart aches for love and belonging. She is a special standout in
this noteworthy effort, a great film for adults who are looking strictly for
mature, realistic drama on the big screen.
With: Jean-Marc Thibault, Bruno Lochet, Abdellah Moundy, Michelle Goddet, Anne
Houdy.
"Mademoiselle Chambon"
is not rated by the Motion Picture
Association Of America. The film's
running time is one hour and 41 minutes. The film is in the French
language with English language subtitles.
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