La fleur du mal (2003)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Claude Chabrol (writer)
Caroline Eliacheff (writer)

Release Date:

14 February 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Three generations of a wealthy Bordeaux family are caught in the crossfire when Anne decides to run for mayor, thanks to a political pamphlet that revives an old murder scandal.

Plot Keywords:

Mayor | Election | Family Relationships | Female To Male Foot In Crotch | Scrabble

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Benoît Magimel	...	François Vasseur
Nathalie Baye	...	Anne Charpin-Vasseur
Mélanie Doutey	...	Michèle Charpin-Vasseur
Suzanne Flon	...	Aunt Line
Bernard Le Coq	...	Gérard Vasseur
Thomas Chabrol	...	Matthieu Lartigue
Henri Attal	...	Fanny's Father-in-law
Kevin Ahyi	...	First Kid
Jérôme Bertin	...	Volunteer
Françoise Bertin	...	Thérèse
Caroline Baehr	...	Fanny
Didier Bénureau	...	Brissot
Yvon Crenn	...	Yves Pouët
Jean-Marc Druet	...	Lab Assistant
Michel Herbault	...	Mayor

Also Known As:

The Flower of Evil (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brief language.

Runtime:

104 min | Canada:101 min (DVD)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | France:U | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R

Company:

Canal+

Quotes:

Aunt Line: [Observing that Marthe is washing the dishes by hand] Why don't you use the dishwasher, Marthe?
Marthe: I work faster than it does. I never asked for it.
Aunt Line: Try to move with the times.
Marthe: Progress isn't all good.

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Good French Family Drama

This is a 100% French movie possibly not ever intended for American viewers. However, being the francophile that I am, I dug up "Flower of Evil" at my local library and proceeded to view it with much anticipation. Nathalie Baye is one of my favorite French actresses.

The story moves along a little slow but the mood of the film is enticing and it leads you to believe that something dark is lurking just beneath the surface.

That dark stuff emerges later on in various subplots while the entire plot does thicken up a bit with good tension. I felt a bit let down when it came time for a climax but I wouldn't dismiss this film because of that, I really enjoyed the superb acting, fine character development, and otherwise gripping story, a characteristic of many French dramas. Maybe some of the subtlety was just lost on me, but I liked the fact that you're never sure who's good or bad, but you end up feeling for each character.

"La Fleur du Mal" is a film for serious film watchers and/or students of acting or drama, and not for mindless entertainment.