Garde A Vue - A French Movie Screening

The typical Miller film has a central figure under a lot of pressure, either self-imposed or coming from others. Here we have a rich lawyer (Serrault, so wonderful in La Cage Aux Folles) accused of raping and killing two young girls. Two detectives who would rather be out celebrating are interrogating him on New Year's Eve in a sterile office.

As the night wears on, Serrault becomes more and more frustrated and anguished since the questioning turns as much on his married life as on his alibis for the two girls. His marriage is a sham; his wife married him for his money and they haven't made love in ten years. Romy Schneider does a great cameo as the wife resigned to her wretched, loveless but upwardly mobile arrangement.

The main characters are all superbly played. Guy Marchand is the dumber of the two cops; he sweats under the lights and hates the accused man even more for his veiled insults. Lino Ventura plays Gallien with a fine combination of tact and anger. He can't forget the photos of the victims.

This movie is one of the finest crime films from France. Please contact Prakash Reddy of the Hyderabad Film Club at 373-0841 or 373-0265 for further details.

French/1981/86min
Director: Claude Miller
Cast: Lino Ventura, Michel Serrault, Guy Marchand, Romy Schneider, Didier Agostini, Patrick Depeyrat