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En face
2000 Thriller
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Credits
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Director: Mathias Ledoux
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Script: Valérie Guignabodet
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Photo: Stéphane Le Parc
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Cast: Jean-Hugues Anglade (Jean),
Clotilde Courau (Michelle),
Christine Boisson (Clémence),
José Garcia (Hugo),
Danièle Lebrun (Woman in red),
Jean Benguigui (Henri de Villard),
Emmanuel Salinger (Inspector Ruault),
Laurence Février (Ghislaine de Villard),
Daniel Dublet (Notary),
Ariel Wizman (Vet),
Anne Loiret (Victoria),
Jean Desailly (Voice)
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Country: France
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Language: French
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Runtime: 90 min
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Aka: Across the Road
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Summary
A young writer, Jean, and his wife Michelle are struggling to make ends meet when, out
of the blue, they inherit a luxurious house opposite their own meagre apartment.
The house belonged to Monsieur Guillemet, whom never of them met before and who stipulated
in his will that the house is theirs providing they do not dispose of his private papers
and they continue to employ his housekeeper, Clémence. The apparent dream
come true soon begins to turn into a nightmare when Jean discovers that Guillemet may
have been murdered and that both Clémence and his wife have many secrets to hide...
Review
En face is the first full length cinema film from director Mathias Ledoux, a bizarre
yet stylish mix of suspense thriller and typically French eroticism. The film’s
first half is gripping, thanks to the creepy location and an even creepier performance
from Christine Boisson as the mysterious housekeeper Clémence. Unfortunately,
as the film develops it becomes less and less convincing and increasingly frustrating,
as the plot gets tangled up in its complexity and the production team go into artistic
overload. Whilst it is possible to enjoy the performances from the film’s stars,
Jean-Hugues Anglade and Clotilde Courau, the film is ultimately unsatisfying, ruined by
a senseless explosion of B-movie histrionics towards the film’s climax, leading to a surreal
ending which looks as if it belongs to an entirely different film.
© James Travers 2002
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