Les biches (1968)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Paul Gégauff (scenario and dialogue) &
Claude Chabrol (scenario and dialogue)

Release Date:

26 September 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Architect Paul Thomas insinuates himself into the relationship of two bisexual women living in a St. Tropez villa with tragic consequences.

Plot Keywords:

Architect | Saint Tropez | Beautiful Woman | Street Artist | Bisexual

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jean-Louis Trintignant	...	Paul Thomas
Jacqueline Sassard	...	Why
Stéphane Audran	...	Frédérique
Nane Germon	...	Violetta
Serge Bento	...	Bookseller
Henri Frances
Henri Attal	...	Robèque
Dominique Zardi	...	Riais

Also Known As:

Bad Girls (USA)
Girlfriends
Les biches - Le cerbiatte (Italy)
The Does

Runtime:

100 min | Portugal:93 min | Argentina:105 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (cut) | Argentina:16 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2003) | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/18 | USA:R | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Les Films de la Boétie

Trivia:

"Biche" is not only French for "doe," it is also slang for "girl" or "young woman" (just like British "bird" or American "chick" or "fox") - so the title is ambiguous: it could be taken as "The Girls," or it could very literally refer to the pictures of female deer (one of which is portrayed with another doe inside its womb) that Why draws and, in one case, keeps in her bedroom.

Quotes:

Why: [referring to Robeque and Riais' departure] I'm beginning to live again since they left.
Paul Thomas: I feel rather guilty.
Frédérique: Enough of them was as good as a feast!

Movie Connections:

References Vertigo (1958)

A true Menage a Trois

Many films uses the "Menage a Trois" element to cause disturbances in the relationship between three people. "Les Biches" uses this device to completely destroy its three characters. A perfect psychological film, "Les Biches" is the ONLY film that I know where it doesn't use Menage a Trois as a facade, but allows the film to explore its themes of Jealousy and Obsession to a sensual and extremely disturbing effect. Not even Truffaut's "Jules and Jim" used the device to this extent. This film is suited for people who loves to watch movies that will make us think, rather than movies that tells us what to think. Truly a hypnotic character study on physical and spiritual obsession. Kudos to Chabrol, his lovely wife Stephane Aubran, cinematographer Jean Rabier, and the sensuous Jacqueline Sassard for their specific roles in creating a chilling masterpiece.