La Cage (1975) - film review

One evening, Julien, a successful property developer, accepts an invitation to visit his ex-wife Hélène at her isolated mansion in the suburbs of Paris.  After a frosty reception – they haven’t seen each other for over a year – Julien falls through a trapdoor and finds himself in a cage in the cellar, with a year’s supply of toilet paper.  Hélène tells him that she will never set him free.  For the time being, she is content to talk to him, to feed him like a pet.  Julien realises that it is only a matter of time before his ex-wife will summon up the courage to kill him…

Perhaps the most wondrously off-field and watchable film in Pierre Granier-Deferre’s varied directorial filmography is this bizarre mix of psychological thriller and black comedy.  Granier-Deferre’s restrained direction serves the film well and allows his lead actors – Lino Ventura and Ingrid Thulin – to deliver a stunning performance.  An excellent script and a particularly noteworthy contribution from Ventura prevents what is effectively a two-handed stage piece from becoming static or boring.  Thulin manages to be both chilling and sympathetic as the somewhat deranged ex-wife – Norman Bates, but with a far better hair stylist.  Despite all this, the film is not without its faults.  The potential for black comedy isn’t utilised as effectively as it could have been, but, more crucially, the film is marred by a misjudged comedy ending.

© James Travers 2005

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