Keswick Film Club - Reviews - The Crime Is Mine

"The Crime Is Mine", the film last Sunday at the Keswick Film Club brought together two favourites – director Francois Ozon and actress Isabelle Huppert. The Club has screened more than ten of Ozon's films over the years, usually small, quiet and finely wrought. Huppert is the "Grande Dame" of French cinema with over a hundred films to her credit over the last fifty years. She was last seen in Keswick in "La Syndicaliste", the story of a trade union organiser investigating corruption in the French nuclear industry which scored a remarkable 92% with the audience.

This time we had a traditional farce based on a French stage play from 1932. As with a good farce, the plot was complicated, confusing and totally silly. A young actress was assaulted by a producer while applying for a part, and he was later found murdered. The down-on-her-luck actress and her down-at-heel lawyer friend saw an opportunity to make money and fame from the situation, by admitting to the crime and pleading self-defence. This went well and they became used to a life of luxury and glamour, but only until Huppert swept in – part pantomime dame, part washed-up movie star, part tragic heroine and part Isabelle Huppert - claiming she was the murderer and leading to claim and counterclaim, accusation, admissions and threats. This might sound like some sort of narrative, but the plot was just a plaything in the hands of the actors and director, who tossed it around and never let it get in the way of the performance.

This enjoyable film was a masterclass in French Cinema – the film knew exactly what it was doing, never more and never less, tightly directed and acted with French style, charm and wit, and a huge amount of skill and fun.