Mon petit doigt m'a dit... (2005)
Directed by Pascal Thomas

Film Review

Something wicked this way comes... Pascal Thomas's adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel By the Pricking of My Thumbs feels more like a slightly embarrassing murder mystery weekend than a serious reinterpretation of a classic English thriller.  Whilst the film is pretty faithful to the novel on which it is based, Pascal Thomas gives it a far from subtle comic twist which dilutes the sense of menace and intrigue without adding much in terms of entertainment value.

The film's main draw is Catherine Frot's spirited portrayal of an amateur sleuth.  It's the third time the actress has worked with Pascal Thomas - their most successful collaboration being La Dilettante (1999).  Although Frot handles the comedy brilliantly, a lacklustre, cliché-heavy script prevents her from making her character particularly convincing.  Likewise, Thomas's direction lacks the discipline and maturity of many of his previous films, even if the end result is mildly entertaining, if only as a half-hearted send-up of a popular genre. Playing the part of Catherine Frot's daughter in this film is Sarah Biasini, the daughter of the iconic film actress Romy Schneider. The popularity of Mon petit doigt m'a dit... led Pascal Thomas to follow this with other Agatha Christie adapatations, with Frot and Dussollier teaming up for Le Crime est notre affaire (2008) and Associés contre le crime (2012).

Film Synopsis

Bélisaire and Prudence Beresford are surprised to learn of the death of an aged aunt not long after they paid her a visit at her comfortable retirement home.  The disappearance of another old woman at the same immaculate residence arouses not only Prudence's suspicions but also her latent amateur sleuth tendencies.  Examining her aunt's possessions, she comes across a painting of a country house that she vaguely recognises.  Could this be the key to the mystery, she wonders?  Ignoring Bélisaire's insistence that she is imagining things, Prudence begins to investigate what she believes to be a crime of frightening proportions.  It isn't long before her suspicions are borne out...