Cast : Jacqueline Bisset, Sandrine Bonnaire, Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Ledoyen, Jean-Pierre Cassel
1995 / France / original title : A JUDGEMENT IN STONE / 111’ / Color / status : completed / French / long feature-film / French and International catalog
A winter morning at the Saint-Malo station. Mrs Lelièvre (Jacqueline Bisset) has come to pick up Sophie (Sandrine Bonnaire), the pearl who has been hired to care of the family house. Sophie gives great satisfaction, nothing is too hard for her. Is it her lack of emotion that makes her seem strange ? Jeanne (Isabelle Huppert), the bright, inquisitive, village postmistress, uses Sophie as an excuse to enter the house. The two young women’s carefully hidden secrets bring them together. Friendship, then partnership. What secrets, for what partnership ?
A psychological thriller, filled with tension and mystery, which delves into the complex interplay of social classes and the devastating consequences of well-kept secrets. With its gripping plot and remarkable performances, this iconic film has left a lasting mark on the cinematic landscape. Its influence transcends borders, shaping contemporary masterpieces like Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite.
Press
“The instant suspense classic that is Claude Chabrol's best thriller.”
The New York Times