Synopsis: Literature teacher and failed novelist Germain is impressed when student Claude turns in a piece of original writing about how he has insinuated his way into the home of his friend Rapha. The writing shows talent and Germain encourages Claude to carry on but how far will teacher go to get the story and how far will Claude go to create it?
Stan's thoughts: Fact and fiction are blurred in so many different senses in this film. How much of what Claude is writing real, how far should fact be manipulated to create a better fiction and how far should you live your life through others, indeed are the lives of others quite what you believe them to be?
On one level this is a study on dangers of living your life through other people, on another it is about the nature of literature. And it is very well done with a superb performance from Ernst Unhauer as the bright, charming and manipulative Claude. Unhauer also gives the character a vital tinge of sadness and tragedy that works wonders in messing with your perception of him.
Great piece of meaty psychological French cinema and one you can delightfully mull over. If I was to criticise it would be that it very occasionally it drags its heels.
Ratings
- Stan's 79%
- IMDB 73%
- Metascore No rating
- Rotten Tomatoes 91%
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