Summary
At the marriage of a colleague in a rural French village, the school teacher Helène
meets the local butcher, Popaul. The two become friends, but Helène is reluctant
to have a love affair because she was badly hurt by her last boyfriend. Popaul is
also scarred by his past – he used to serve in the army and is haunted by memories
of the atrocities he witnessed. The tranquillity of village life is abruptly shattered
when a girl’s mutilated body is found in the woods. A few days later, the
wife of Helène’s recently married colleague is discovered, with similar wounds.
At the scene of this latest murder, Helène discovers a lighter which is identical
to the one she gave Popaul as a birthday present...
Review
Le boucher is an early and splendid example of the kind of gentle but engrossing
thriller which would become the mainstay of Claude Chabrol’s film work. The
director’s skills are very much in evidence in this film. The film begins
with a charming and perceptive portrayal of provincial life, reminiscent of scenes from
Chabrol’s earlier film, Le beau Serge. But then, as in many of
Chabrol’s thrillers, the darker side of human nature begins to intrude, first very
gradually, before making a spectacular and gripping entrance in the last twenty or so
minutes of the film. The shift in mood from the normality of everyday life to the
horror of an unfolding nightmare is brilliantly achieved in this film. The tension
gradually increases, following Helène’s growing suspicions about Popaul,
towards an unbearably suspense-filled climax.
This film boasts some excellent photography – the idyllic beauty of the French countryside
contrasting with the claustrophobic horror of the night scenes. The opening title
sequence involving pictures of primitive cave paintings, accompanied by some eerie music,
sets the mood of the film very well. This adds to the feeling of suspense, because
it causes us to question the apparent normality of the first part of the film and prepares
us for what is to follow.
Chabrol is well-served by his two lead actors, Stéphane Audran and Jean Yanne.
Yanne is particularly memorable as the butcher Popaul who behaves with apparent normality
whilst always giving the impression of a darker, more sinister character – perfect
material for Chabrol.
© James Travers 2002
For more on Claude Chabrol see:
The life of Claude Chabrol
Le Beau Serge
Les Cousins
Que la bête meure
La Cérémonie
Buy films by Claude Chabrol
More about the French New Wave
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