Le Mouton enragé (1974) - film review

Nicolas Mallet is a shy bank employee who is surprised by his audacity when one day he chats up a young woman in the street.   When he hears of this, his friend Claude, a somewhat sour writer, offers him a strange proposal.  Under his guidance, Nicholas will climb the social ladder, seducing as many women as necessary so that he can become super-rich.  Having thrown his bank job, Nicholas makes a start by seducing Roberte, the wife of an academic.  Nicholas then finds himself the personal associate of Lourceuil, a wealthy businessman.  To further his political ambitions, Lourceuil puts Nicholas in charge of a newspaper, bought from a rich widow.  Claude’s scheme appears to be going well – Nicholas is no longer the timid sheep, but a self-confident seducer of women and ruthless opportunist.  Then things start to go badly wrong…

This deliciously dark black comedy was one of Michel Deville’s most popular films, an amusing yet disturbingly plausible portrait of the exploits of a guilt-free social climber.  It features Jean-Louis Trintignant in one of his most memorable roles, one which he clearly relishes as he plays along such beauties as Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin.  The film, with its caustic humour, eccentric style and dream-like composition, is typical of Michel Deville – written, filmed and edited with a slightly anarchic sense of fun, yet played with great depth and sincerity by a talented and well-directed cast.

© James Travers 2007

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