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Gabrielle

Written by Nobuhiro Hosoki

 

It is scary to know how the profound affection of marriage can slowly shift a sterile relationship. Gabrielle was originally adapted from Joseph Conrad's story "Return", set in Paris in 1912, (Conrad is also known for his novel Heart of Darkness, used as inspiration for Apocalypse now). The story of Gabrielle unfolds in stylized black-and-white, portraying Jean, a self-centered, successful businessman(Pascal Greggory), who boasts at length of his bohemian luxury in a well-manicured society which he thinks only man can possess.

Jean had been married to the well-bred Gabrielle(Isabelle Huppert) for ten years. Every Thursday, with an array of prominent friends they throw a lavish party to socialize and community-that is, until he comes home and finds a letter saying that his wife left him for another man. Such a betrayal came as a blow, leaving him preoccupied with his train of thought. Before he can digest this, and much to his surprise, his unfaithful wife returns home the same evening. She drops a bombshell with one of the memorable lines in the film: "Had I known you loved me, I'd never have come back." It makes you wonder about the relationship that still exists. Initially, it creates an assured point of sympathy, but it soon degenerates into a verbal tennis match.

Isabelle Huppert's superb acting- her rather icy and mortifying performance can penetrate a human psyche-leaves us felling an emotional brutality so strong that it even manages to wound Jean's self-esteem. The setting, inside a cold townhouse, forces us to feel an almost claustrophobic theatrical experience. This is owing to director Patrice Chereau's theater background, which helps to the two actors to achieve their finest and most consistent performance.

Throughout the film, he frequently inserts( with slightly challenging usage) the score and large-text captioning that, with consistent close-ups, keep the audience feeling a series of stifling, repressive, in-your-face impacts. After the couple realized that all their bickring and shouting is for lost cause that actually ended a long time ago, they come to the final scene when she bares all and offers herself in bed pretending that nothing has ever happened. If marriage can be this cruel!

Directed by Patrice Chéreau
written (in French, with English subtitles) by Mr. Chéreau and Anne-Louise Trividic,
Based on the short story “The Return” by Joseph Conrad
Director of photography, Éric Gautier
Edited by François Gedigier
Music by Fabio Vacchi
Production designer,:Olivier Radot
Produced by Joseph Strub, Serge Catoire and Ferdinanda Frangipane
Released by IFC First Take. Running time: 90 minutes.
This film is not rated.
Cast: Isabelle Huppert (Gabrielle Hervey)
Pascal Greggory (Jean Hervey)
Claudia Coli (Yvonne)
Thierry Hancisse (the Editor in Chief)
, and Chantal Neuwirth (Madeleine).