Rediscovering Chabrol: Three Tragic Farces Starring Stéphane Audran Now Streaming on Arte.tv
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A collection of films by the prolific French director Claude Chabrol, including “The Breakup,” “Just Before Night,” and “The Red Wedding,” are currently available for streaming, offering a darkly comedic look at bourgeois life and the secrets hidden beneath its polished surface. Chabrol’s work, associated with a “golden age” between 1967 and 1975, a period of collaboration with producer André Génovès known as the “Pompidolian cycle.” Though, some critics prefer to categorize this era as the “Hélène films,” named after the recurring female protagonist frequently portrayed with a captivating blend of composure and ambition by Stéphane Audran, Chabrol’s muse and wife.
Alongside Chabrol’s more celebrated works like The Unfaithful Wife (1969), Let the Beast Die (1969), and The Butcher (1970), a lesser-known but equally compelling trilogy has resurfaced: The Breakup (1970), Just Before Night (1971), and The Red Wedding (1973). These “black diamonds,” as described by one source,were recently restored and screened at the La Rochelle Cinéma festival before becoming available on Arte.tv.
Chabrol himself famously declared, “I am a harmonious synthesis between Aeschylus, Corneille, Flaubert and Simenon,” a statement that encapsulates his unique ability to balance farce and tragedy. His films often walk a precarious line, challenging viewers accustomed to more straightforward narratives. This delicate equilibrium, coupled with a penchant for the grotesque within a noir framework, defines the originality of chabrolian cinema. Consider, for example, the visceral animalistic sounds emitted by Audran and Michel Piccoli during a love scene in The Red Wedding, a reimagining of illicit love affairs reminiscent of Visconti, featuring a compelling performance by Claude Piéplu as the husband destined for betrayal.
Scraping the Veneer of Conformism
Chabrol consistently sought to expose the hidden darkness beneath the surface of societal norms. He masterfully juxtaposed exaggerated caricature with profound tragedy, suggesting that fate inevitably punishes those entangled in wrongdoing. The director consistently challenged audiences to look beyond superficial appearances and “scrape off the veneer of conformism.” Will the trio of cynical women who reluctantly host a divorcing Stéphane Audran at the pension managed by annie Cordy in The Breakup ultimately demonstrate empathy?
Just Before Nightfall,a title lauded as a masterpiece in its own right,chronicles the psychological unraveling of a man,played by Michel Bouquet,haunted by guilt after accidentally killing his mistress during a passionate encounter. According to Cécile Maistre Chabrol, the filmmaker’s adopted daughter, the film represents “the apogee of the criticism of the petty bourgeoisie who create problems for themselves as they have no money problems.” This “devilishly anti-romantic” film portrays the family as an institution that actively discourages accountability. “If you are going to denounce yourself, your action will have no moral value, it will be perversion and nothing else,” a chilling line delivered by the character portrayed by Audran to her husband contemplating confession. The film explores the blurred lines between vice and virtue, depicting a frightening descent into nihilism.
Stream Chabrol’s Masterpieces
The “Hélène films” – The breakup, Just Before Night, the Red Wedding, along with The Unfaithful wife, Let the Beast Die, The Butcher, and The Hinds – are available for viewing until July 14 on Arte.tv, offering a rare opportunity to delve into the complex and captivating world of Claude Chabrol.
