Mademoiselle

English producer and director Tony Richardson`s ninth feature film is based on a short story by French writer Jean Genet and written by French writer and director Marguerite Duras. It tells the story about a school ma`am who becomes obsessed with one of the locals in a rustic French village whilst the small community is disturbed by a chain of unsettling criminal acts.This late 1960s independent film is a psychological thriller and crime drama driven by its atmosphere which contains elements of horror, Film-noir, romance and a study of character which is more intriguing as a dark internal rather than external mystery. Tony Richardson`s (1928-1991) distinctive filming, French actress Jeanne Moreau`s understated acting performance as the obscure female protagonist and the poignant atmosphere which continuously surrounds this British-French co-production, makes it a noticable art film.

a must to see more times

I can remember seeing this when I was fourteen, on BBC2 probably, back in early seventies. On a black and white TV naturallement.. I now see things ,that I could never understand as a kid.Its about how one person can ruin a life,for her own sexual agenda. And then aided and abetted by prejudices , assumptions, of the Village, get away with it. Although, bearing in mind this was a peasant village,and like most folk in the sixties, not enlightened. Twas ever thus, throughout any era. Its evolution, I guess.It makes me think, about my own prejudices, and assumptions. And how easily I can get sucked into views, courtesy of the Media.On a less cerebral level....I give Jeanne Moreau 10/10 for fantastic eyes and lips!

Not my cup of tea.

Written by Jean Genet and starring Jeanne Moreau, Mademoiselle instantly generates interest and does not disappoint, as long as you realise the kinks will not be ironed out. Yet the most remarkable thing about it is probably the dense, widescreen photography. So often it grabs the attention, even though the film is measured in style, and completely without music. There is a somewhat perverted erotic charge to it that seems to come straight from Genet and recalls his own film, Un Chant d'amour. The Mademoiselle of the title falls for an Italian lumberjack and vents her sexual frustration on his son, who is in her class, by humiliating him for his poverty, and on the whole community, in a series of random arson and flooding attacks. Likewise the theme of betrayal is writ large, made monstrous by the fact that she herself is the culprit, Moreau appearing like the little match girl, but turned to evil, just after the crucial act. The whole thing is about sexual repression and crude crowd mentalities, but as the script is a bit clunky it derives much of its power from the images themselves, which also have a rawness, and Moreau's face, which is so compelling. You can see bits of Le Boucher in this, Therese Desqueyroux in the obsession with fire and poisoning episode, and lyrical forest scenes from Jules et Jim turned inside out; the director Tony Richardson has also instilled it with something English beyond the language, completing a remarkable hybrid film.

The U.S. release of this is with the original french with yellow subtitles in English or French or Spanish...a true gem...let's hope,, someday, it is released on Blu-ray. Bresson's Balthazar and Mouchette are poetic companion pieces and are on the cusp of black and white films disappearing.......