La Ceremonie
There's something very Hitchcockian about "La Ceremonie," the most recent psychological thriller from director Claude Chabrol, but what else would you expect from the man regarded as "France's Alfred Hitchcock?"Based on "A Judgment in Stone," a novel by British mystery writer Ruth Rendell, "La Ceremonie" unfolds — or more properly, unwinds — like classic Hitchcock, as one layer of story falls away to reveal another. And what's left at the end may not be what you expect at all.
At first glance, the story seems to be about class struggles. Then there's also a nod to illiteracy. And then there are tantalizing threads of a plot about blackmail and possible murderous pasts. Bizarrely enough, all of them are germane to the film's shocking conclusion (here's just one hint, don't leave before the final credits begin).
As the film begins, Catherine Lelievre (Jacqueline Bisset) is interviewing applicants to become her new maid. Despite her strangely icy demeanor, one of them, Sophie Bonhomme (Sandrine Bonnaire), has glowing references, and Catherine hires her on the spot.
Sophie justifies her reputation at first, as she cleans the home impeccably and cooks the family first-class meals. But when they leave her written instructions or shopping lists, they go unheeded or ignored — as it turns out, Sophie is illiterate, a fact that she's managed to keep concealed from her past employers.
Georges also has great disdain for Jeanne, who has a very mysterious past. Things ultimately come to a head when he forbids Sophie to see her newfound friend, and when he discovers that Sophie has been blackmailing his daughter, Melinda (Virginie Ledoyen), to keep her secret hidden.
Chabrol ("L'Enfer," "Betty"), who also co-wrote the film's screenplay, does a superb job of building tension and then letting it dissipate slowly to increase the suspense. He also treats his upper-class and lower-class characters with equal contempt and purposely lets much of their personalities remain mysterious, to great effect.
For example, Sophie remains a cipher, who derives pleasure from simple things like chocolate and television. The Lelievres also have secrets that are hinted upon but never discussed in-depth.
Of course, it helps that Bonnaire plays Sophie so marvelously as a walking blank slate and that Huppert ("Amateur") makes Jeanne appealingly quirky (the two shared the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival for their performances).
"La Ceremonie" is unrated but would probably receive a PG for the film's violent conclusion, a handful of profanities, most of them coming from Huppert's mouth, and one vulgar joke.