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Les Biches (film)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Les Biches
| image = Biches.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Claude Chabrol
| producer = Andr Gnovs
| writer =
| starring =
| music = Pierre Jansen
| cinematography = Jean Rabier
| editing = Jacques Gaillard
| studio =
| distributor =
| released =
| runtime = 95 minutes
| country =
| language = French
| budget =
| gross = 627,679 admissions (France)
}}
'Les Biches' is a 1968 drama film directed by Claude Chabrol. It depicts a tortured relationship between characters portrayed by Stphane Audran and Jacqueline Sassard; Jean-Louis Trintignant also stars. Audran won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival. The film had a total of 627,164 admissions in France.
While the film does not acknowledge any literary sources, 'Les Biches' is loosely based on Patricia Highsmith's 1955 novel 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', with the main characters' genders being switched. Chabrol's screenwriter Paul Ggauff had previously adapted the novel into 'Purple Noon' in 1960.
Plot
On the Pont des Arts in Paris, a rich and beautiful woman, Frdrique, picks up a penniless female street artist called Why. Frdrique seduces Why and takes her to her villa in Saint Tropez. The villa is occupied by two gay friends of Frdrique, Robegue and Riasis. At a party, Why meets an architect, Paul Thomas. She leaves the party with him. They are followed by Robegue and Riasis, acting on Frdrique's orders. They watch as Paul sleeps with Why.
Frdrique visits Paul and sets out to seduce him. The two start having an affair. Frdrique invites Paul to move into the villa, kicking out Robegue and Riasis. One morning Why finds a note saying that Paul and Frdrique have gone to Paris. She follows them and goes to Frdrique's apartment. Discovering Frdrique alone, Why confesses to being jealous of both Frdrique and Paul. Frdrique tells Why she finds her love repulsive, and Why stabs her with a poisoned dagger. Why calls Paul, pretending to be Frdrique, and invites him to the apartment. When he arrives Why is waiting for him dressed in Frdrique's clothes.
Cast
* Jean-Louis Trintignant - Paul Thomas
* Jacqueline Sassard - Why
* Stphane Audran - Frdrique
* Nane Germon - Violetta
* Serge Bento - Bookseller
* Henri Frances
* Henri Attal - Robque
* Dominique Zardi - Riais
Production
Chabrol later admitted he included the lesbian plot in order to help the film at the box office. It was the first film he made with producer Andr Gnovs.
Chabrol talked about the story:
It is about the equilibrium of such a relationship, when someone else intervenes about the bargains that people make with each other. And about the rich, the advantage that they have over the poor, their richness. They can buy people, and the poor have to submit, until they revolt, and the only possible revolt is destruction. It is from a Marxist point of view but it is not political at all. I'm sure you cannot make a revolution with a camera. But you can show up all the people and things you dislike.
Reception
'Les biches' was not successful at the box office but it has become one of Chabrol's more famous movies. It revived his reputation critically after a series of disappointing films.
Chabrol said later the film marked a creative turning point for him. "With the films since 'Les Biches' I think I'm finally on the right track," he said. "I knew I was interested in murder but what I didn't realise is that my interest isn't in solving puzzles. I want to study the human behaviour of people involved in murder."
References
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