Derborence (1985) - film review

Shortly after getting married to Thérèse, a young alpine farmer, Antoine, goes mountain climbing with his uncle Séraphin.  There is an avalanche and it is believed that the two men perished in the violent rock fall.  The news is devastating for Thérèse who has just discovered she is pregnant.  Then, some weeks later, Antoine appears alive and apparently unharmed…

About the only thing going for this painfully static and frigid melodrama is its attractive photography of the Swiss Alps setting.  The production team fails on every count to evoke the natural poetry in the film’s fairytale-like storyline and is ill-served by a poor script and some astoundingly flat acting.  The film does little to engage and audience’s attention and is slowed down by some unjustifiably long dialogue-free takes.  However, it does make an excellent soporific.

© James Travers 2004

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