Gabrielle

Genre: psychological drama

Director: Patrice Chéreau

Release: 2005

Studio: Azor Films et al. - First Take (IFC)

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.2/10

Turmoil in Parisian Society

Life has granted Jean Hervey all he could ever wish for: a thriving career, friends and acquaintances he entertains lavishly on Thursday nights and, above all, his wife Gabrielle, the shining centrepiece in his bourgeois showcase. Can you imagine his astonishment – worse still, his utter distress – when an unforeseen incident threatens his well-ordered kingdom? Such is the basis for GABRIELLE and, since this is a Patrice Chéreau movie, don’t expect lighthearted fare. As soon as Jean’s serenity is challenged, the film’s initial dreaminess dissolves into a psychological tug-of-war gloriously highlighting the uglier side of high society.

Personally, two things surprised me immensely in this rich drama about the rich. Firstly, the elegant social gatherings that Jean holds for his supposed friends are often marred by cruelty, jealousy and face-saving. Secondly, the luxury in which the Herveys live is unequivocally regal. Servants are everywhere and do everything in the household… but there is a hidden price to pay for the comfort they provide: their loyalty is not a given, it seems. Stylistically, the film is claustrophobic and very dark. Note that odd scene in which a maid climbs a staircase with lamp in hand and also pay attention to Fabio Vacchi’s music, at once modernist and unsettling. As for the acting, Pascal Greggory (maniacal) and Isabelle Huppert (ice-cold) are up to the task. The production is flawless throughout, and director Chéreau certainly knows how to build tension. Nevertheless, I must warn you: this film is sombre, theatrical and relentless. The characters do not ask for your sympathy but, like Yvonne the maid, you won’t be able to turn your back on them either. And when you get to the final scene, you will have witnessed tragedy on a grand and sumptuous scale.

MBiS

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