IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
A P.I. is obsessed with a cute woman, who seduces and kills rich men around W. Europe.A P.I. is obsessed with a cute woman, who seduces and kills rich men around W. Europe.A P.I. is obsessed with a cute woman, who seduces and kills rich men around W. Europe.
- Awards
- 6 nominations
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRemade, in English, as The Eye Of The Beholder(1999), starring Ewan McGregor and Ashley Judd. Between these two direct versions, Bob Rafelson's "Black Widow" appeared, having a very similar plot (but with two female protagonists) and giving Sami Frey a role quite similar to the one he plays here.
- ConnectionsFeatures The Last Laugh (1924)
- SoundtracksDer Hirt auf dem Felsen
- 12 Ländler op.171
Composed by Franz Schubert
Soprano Anne Forez
Piano Guy Printemps
Clarinette Maurice Gabai
Featured review
Surrogate father.
Marc Behm had written a screenplay for producer Philip Yordan which was unused but provided the basis for his novel 'Eye of the Beholder'. It is only fitting that the setting of this adaptation by Michel and Jacques Audiard should be changed from North America to France as Behm was an avowed Francophile.
The phrase 'style over substance' could easily apply to the early scenes of Claude Miller's film and although it never ceases to be stylish it gradually draws one in and becomes utterly compelling.
The main thrust of the plot is the distant relationship between Catherine, a bi-sexual serial murderess and private detective Beauvoir who develops a paternal obsession to protect her, even to the point of hiding the bodies of her victims.
That two such disturbed and dysfuntional characters are able to arouse our sympathy is down to Claude Miller's inspired casting of Michel Serrault and Isabelle Adjani.
Monsieur Serrault proved himself adept at both comedy and tragedy and had previously impressed in this director's 'Garde a vue'. An immensely talented artiste, he again displays an ability to portray someone walking an emotional tightrope. Since being cast by Francois Truffaut as Adele Hugo, Mlle Adjani has gone from strength to strength and excels in unbalanced characters struggling with their inner demons. She possesses an indefinable air of mystery and what one critic referred to as her 'signature stare' serves her well in this.
Full marks must go to the make up artiste who has rendered gorgeous Stéphane Audran unrecognisable, well, almost, as the 'Grey lady' and there is a fascinating performance as a blind millionaire by Sami Frey. The scene of the traffic accident involving Frey and Serrault must have had an especially painful resonance for Serrault as he had lost his teenage daughter in a car crash six years earlier. Indeed that personal tragedy must surely have informed his performance as an older man desperately seeking a young woman as a substitute for the daughter he never knew.
The film did not do well commercially but has since acquired cult status in its native country whilst Stephan Elliott's pointless remake has sunk without trace. Deservedly so.
The phrase 'style over substance' could easily apply to the early scenes of Claude Miller's film and although it never ceases to be stylish it gradually draws one in and becomes utterly compelling.
The main thrust of the plot is the distant relationship between Catherine, a bi-sexual serial murderess and private detective Beauvoir who develops a paternal obsession to protect her, even to the point of hiding the bodies of her victims.
That two such disturbed and dysfuntional characters are able to arouse our sympathy is down to Claude Miller's inspired casting of Michel Serrault and Isabelle Adjani.
Monsieur Serrault proved himself adept at both comedy and tragedy and had previously impressed in this director's 'Garde a vue'. An immensely talented artiste, he again displays an ability to portray someone walking an emotional tightrope. Since being cast by Francois Truffaut as Adele Hugo, Mlle Adjani has gone from strength to strength and excels in unbalanced characters struggling with their inner demons. She possesses an indefinable air of mystery and what one critic referred to as her 'signature stare' serves her well in this.
Full marks must go to the make up artiste who has rendered gorgeous Stéphane Audran unrecognisable, well, almost, as the 'Grey lady' and there is a fascinating performance as a blind millionaire by Sami Frey. The scene of the traffic accident involving Frey and Serrault must have had an especially painful resonance for Serrault as he had lost his teenage daughter in a car crash six years earlier. Indeed that personal tragedy must surely have informed his performance as an older man desperately seeking a young woman as a substitute for the daughter he never knew.
The film did not do well commercially but has since acquired cult status in its native country whilst Stephan Elliott's pointless remake has sunk without trace. Deservedly so.
helpful•10
- brogmiller
- Apr 27, 2022
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Das Auge
- Filming locations
- Fondation Ephrussie de Rothschild, Villa Ile-de-Frances, Cap Ferrat, Alpes-Maritimes, France(Michel de Meyerganz's villa)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.66 : 1
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