En toute innocence (1988)
Directed by Alain Jessua

Film Review

Alain Jessua produced and directed this disturbing psychological suspense-drama which bears a close similarity to some of Claude Chabrol's darker thrillers. In common with Jessua's previous films Jeu de massacre (1967) and Les Chiens (1979), En toute innocence is a scathing piece of social commentary that sneakily exposes the anarchy and nastiness that lies beneath our supposedly civilised, well-ordered society.

The film revolves around a seemingly content bourgeois family, where everyone appears calm, settled and content.  In reality, the ready smiles are merely a mask to hide the pent-up resentment, frustration and disillusionment that are eating away at the protagonists. Whilst neither the characters nor the plot are as well thought out as they need to be for the film to be totally effective, Jessua succeeds in conveying a mood of suppressed hatred and paranoid suspicion, bringing a Hitchcockian feel to what might otherwise have been a fairly routine thriller.

Michel Serrault and Nathalie Baye are well-cast as a duo engaged in a deadly mind game and give some great performances, with Baye impressing most in an unusually unsympathetic role. Serrault doles out manic paranoia as heartily as Baye seethes with repressed anger, her sinister dual-character providing the film with some deliciously dark moments. Like Chabrol, Jessua takes a morbid delight in mocking the well-heeled middle classes and exposing them for the psychotic mal-adjusted frauds they are.

Film Synopsis

Paul Duchène and his son Thomas run an architectural business from their country estate.  One day, Paul returns home to find Thomas' wife, Catherine, making love with one of his business associates.  In a rage, Paul drives away in his car at full speed, and crashes into a lorry.  Although he survives the accident, he is wheelchair bound and appears not to be able to speak.  Catherine tries to make peace with him, but he refuses, and an air of quiet hostility pervades the household.  Convinced that his sister-in-law intends to kill him, Paul decides the time has come for him to take his revenge...