- Director : Claude Chabrol
- Actors : Nathalie Baye, Benoît Magimel, Henri Attal, Suzanne Flon, Isabelle Huppert
- Media Format : Anamorphic, NTSC, Widescreen
- Run time : 6 hours and 59 minutes
- Studio : Arrow Video
- Number of discs : 4
- Release date : April 26, 2022
Claude Chabrol was a highly significant name in French cinema
for half a century, even contributing to the legendary Cahiers du Cinéma
during its peak in the 1950s. Among these contributions was a critical analysis
of Alfred Hitchcock’s work (co-authored by Eric Rohmer), which clearly
influenced his own filmography throughout his career. When he wasn’t attempting
to imitate the murder mysteries of Alfred Hitchcock, Chabrol was often focused
on the depiction of upper-class lifestyles, which is a commonality between each
of the films in this collection.
Twisting the Knife is a limited-edition box set that includes
four films from Chabrol. Though the French director has been making films since
the late 1950s, all of the movies included in this set come from the late 1990s
and early 2000s. This small sample shows a consistency in the later years of
his filmography, both in style and subject matter. Along with high definition presentations
of each film, three of them were given a new 4K restoration. Contained in a box
with newly commissioned artwork by Tony Stella, there is also an 80-page
collector's booklet with new writing by Sean Hogan, Brad Stevens, Catherine
Dousteyssier-Khoze, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and Pamela Hutchinson on the
filmmaker’s work, as well as the cast and crew info for each film. This is the second
box set of Claude Chabrol’s work, following Arrow Film’s release of Lies andDeceit.
The Swindle
The first film in the collection is the closest thing to a
genre picture, along with the clearest homage to the work of Hitchcock. The
Swindle (Rien ne va plus) is a 1997 lighthearted thriller about two
small-time con artists who take on their biggest score, which raises the stakes
with all types of unexpected dangers. Betty (Isabelle Huppert) is the youthful
partner to veteran con man Victor (Michel Serrault), who begins to question the
loyalty of his cohort when she comes up with a plan to swindle a financial
courier (Cluzet again) carrying a large sum of money. Filled with the paranoia
of Torment and many instances of selfish betrayal seen in Betty, The Swindle
is also far lighter in tone. The countless double crosses within the narrative
come off as far more fun since each of the characters are self-serving thieves.
Special Features:
- New
4K restoration
- New
commentary by critic Barry Forshaw and author Sean Hogan
- New
visual essay by scholar Catherine Dousteyssier-Khoze
- New
interview with Cécile Maistre-Chabrol
- Behind
the scenes
- Interview
with Isabelle Huppert
- Introduction
by film scholar Joël Magny
- Select
scene commentaries by Claude Chabrol
- Trailer
- Image
gallery
The Color of Lies
The Color of Lies (Au cœur du mensonge) is a 1999 psychological mystery
involving the death of a young girl in a small seaside town. Because art
teacher René Sterne (Jacques Gamblin) was the last to see her, the town quickly
turns their back on him, even though the investigating officers doubt his involvement.
The new chief of police Frédérique Lesage (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) is thrown
into a community she knows little about while investigating the murder. The
investigation turns into an exploration of the unique small town world, and eventually
leads to television journalist and minor celebrity Germain-Roland Desmot (Antoine
de Caunes), who René suspects is having an affair with his wife (Sandrine
Bonnaire).
Special Features:
- New
commentary by critic Barry Forshaw and author Sean Hogan
- New
visual essay by film critic Scout Tafoya
- New
visual essay by film critic David Kalat
- Behind
the scenes
- Introduction
by film scholar Joël Magny
- Select
scene commentaries by Claude Chabrol
- Trailer
- Image
gallery
Nightcap
The 2000 film Nightcap (Merci pour le Chocolat)
is what you might have gotten from Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca had it
been a comedy. There is a mystery at the center of the film, but the reveal
comes as less of a surprise as the casual manner with which the film’s
murderous culprit justifies and dismisses these evil actions. Even the
revelations of criminal insanity are not enough to disturb the pristine veneer
of upper-class wealth.
The film begins with the highly publicized remarriage of a
famed concert pianist to his second wife, Mika (Isabelle Huppert), after the
death of his third. André (Jacques Dutronc) also has a grown son from his first
marriage named Guillaume (Rodolphe Pauly), who appears to get along well with
Mika. Despite the remarriage, their life seems to already be in a comfortable
routine until a surprise visit from a young woman born on the same day as
Guillaume and nearly switched with him at birth due to a similarity in last
names. Even when we know where the film is headed, it is a devious treat to
enjoy because of Huppert’s captivating performance. This makes what might have
otherwise been an underwhelming film into something wickedly enjoyable.
Special Features:
- New
commentary by film critic Justine Smith
- New
visual essay by film critic Scout Tafoya
- Interview
with Isabelle Huppert
- Interview
with Jacques Dutronc
- Behind
the scenes
- Screen
test for Anna Mouglalis
- Introduction
by film scholar Joël Magny
- Select
scene commentaries by Claude Chabrol
- Trailer
- Image
gallery
The Flower of Evil
The Flower of Evil (La fleur du mal) is a 2003 suspense film that begins
with a scene introducing a murder scene, but flashes back before giving the
audience any context. It is easy to forget a murder will even occur as the
narrative switches to family melodrama. François (Benoît Magimel) returns to
the successful family after a period in America, and quickly begins a romantic
relationship with his stepsister Michèle (Mélanie Doutey). Michèle’s mother Anne
(Nathalie Baye) married François’s
father Gérard (Bernard Le Coq) after the death of her first husband, who also happened
to be Gérard’s brother. This is just one of many skeletons in the family closet,
with Gérard’s sister (Suzanne Flon) also rumored to have killed her own father.
Although there are multiple deaths discussed and one murder seen onscreen, The
Flowers of Evil is much more concerned with the privileges afforded the upper
class family, including evading punishment for crimes.
Special Features:
- New 4K restoration
- New
commentary by film critic Farran Smith Nehme
- New
visual essay by Agnes Poirier
- Behind
the scenes
- Interview
with co-writer Catherine Eliacheff
- Introduction
by film scholar Joël Magny
- Select
scene commentaries by Claude Chabrol
- Trailer
- Image
gallery
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 8/10
Historical
Significance: 7.5/10
Special Features: 8.5/10
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