A somber, slow-moving mystery with a small, hardworking cast and long running time, Jacques Rivette's "Secret Defense" premiered in Los Angeles as part of "City of Lights, City of Angels", a mini-fest of new French films at the Directors Guild Theater.
Critics and foreign-film cineastes may sit still for this one, but Rivette's ultraslow pacing and repetitive shots following the movement of characters is numbing. While the story is compelling, the lumbering mise en scene only accentuates the coldness of the characters and promotes one's emotional detachment.
The brave but mostly withdrawn Sylvie (Sandrine Bonnaire) is a scientist whose father died in an accident five years earlier. Her brother Paul Gregoire Colin) discovers an old photograph and believes their father was killed by a colleague, the well-to-do Walser (Jerzy Radziwilowicz).
Walser's secretary and girlfriend Veronique (Laure Marsac) comes to see Sylvie about threats Paul has made. A meeting with Walser leaves Sylvie herself suspicious, but Paul has more proof and makes it clear he plans revenge.
Packing a gun, Sylvie gets to Walser's country estate first and confronts him. In a scuffle, she mistakenly shoots and kills Veronique. A smooth operator and attractive womanizer, Walser covers up the crime and gradually gets on Sylvie's good side. But she's haunted by what she's done and shocked by the crimes committed by Walser and her own mother (Francoise Fabian).
With Paul still seeking satisfaction, Veronique's sister Ludivine (also played by Marsac) makes an entrance, sleeps with Walser and gives shell-shocked Sylvie a reason to leave.
In between long, dialogueless sequences of Sylvie waiting for trains, riding in trains, working in the lab and walking the streets, Rivette gives us a psychologically rich tale that's painstakingly put together piece by piece. Alas, it all leads to an unexpected, not very satisfying climax involving another killing.
SECRET DEFENSE
Pierre Grise Prods.
T&C Films AG, Alla Films, La Sept Cinema
Director: Jacques Rivette
Producers: Martine Marignac, Christian Lambert
Screenwriters: Jacques Rivette, Pascal Bonitzer
Director of photography: William Lubtchansky
Production designer: Manu de Chauvigny
Editor: Nicole Lubtchansky
Costume designer: Anne Autran
Color/stereo
Cast:
Sylvie: Sandrine Bonnaire
Walser: Jerzy Radziwilowicz
Paul: Gregoire Colin
Veronique/Ludivine: Laure Marsac
Genevieve: Francoise Fabian
Running time -- 170 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Critics and foreign-film cineastes may sit still for this one, but Rivette's ultraslow pacing and repetitive shots following the movement of characters is numbing. While the story is compelling, the lumbering mise en scene only accentuates the coldness of the characters and promotes one's emotional detachment.
The brave but mostly withdrawn Sylvie (Sandrine Bonnaire) is a scientist whose father died in an accident five years earlier. Her brother Paul Gregoire Colin) discovers an old photograph and believes their father was killed by a colleague, the well-to-do Walser (Jerzy Radziwilowicz).
Walser's secretary and girlfriend Veronique (Laure Marsac) comes to see Sylvie about threats Paul has made. A meeting with Walser leaves Sylvie herself suspicious, but Paul has more proof and makes it clear he plans revenge.
Packing a gun, Sylvie gets to Walser's country estate first and confronts him. In a scuffle, she mistakenly shoots and kills Veronique. A smooth operator and attractive womanizer, Walser covers up the crime and gradually gets on Sylvie's good side. But she's haunted by what she's done and shocked by the crimes committed by Walser and her own mother (Francoise Fabian).
With Paul still seeking satisfaction, Veronique's sister Ludivine (also played by Marsac) makes an entrance, sleeps with Walser and gives shell-shocked Sylvie a reason to leave.
In between long, dialogueless sequences of Sylvie waiting for trains, riding in trains, working in the lab and walking the streets, Rivette gives us a psychologically rich tale that's painstakingly put together piece by piece. Alas, it all leads to an unexpected, not very satisfying climax involving another killing.
SECRET DEFENSE
Pierre Grise Prods.
T&C Films AG, Alla Films, La Sept Cinema
Director: Jacques Rivette
Producers: Martine Marignac, Christian Lambert
Screenwriters: Jacques Rivette, Pascal Bonitzer
Director of photography: William Lubtchansky
Production designer: Manu de Chauvigny
Editor: Nicole Lubtchansky
Costume designer: Anne Autran
Color/stereo
Cast:
Sylvie: Sandrine Bonnaire
Walser: Jerzy Radziwilowicz
Paul: Gregoire Colin
Veronique/Ludivine: Laure Marsac
Genevieve: Francoise Fabian
Running time -- 170 minutes
No MPAA rating...
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.