Mademoiselle (1966 film)
Encyclopedia
Mademoiselle is a French
- British
drama film
directed by Tony Richardson
. The dark drama won a BAFTA award and nomination and was featured in the 2007 Brooklyn Academy of Music
French film retrospective. Jeanne Moreau
plays an undetected sociopath
, arsonist and poisoner, a respected visiting schoolteacher and sécretaire at the Mairie in a small French village.
s to inundate the village, so there's never a moment in the film that the audience believes she's a normal upstanding citizen, as the villagers do. But the film provides little insight into her motivation; she has no cause for revenge, and acquires no material gain or increased standing in the community from her furtive crimes.
Out of pure prejudice, an Italian woodcutter (Manou, played in Italian by Ettore Manni
) is the chief suspect. Sexual tension arises between Mademoiselle and Manou during a series of encounters in the forest. Finally, after a night of somewhat perverse intimacy in the fields, she falsely denounces him and the villagers hack him to death.
In a final scene, as Mademoiselle is leaving the village for ever, it is made obvious that the woodcutter's son (and Mademoiselle's former pupil) knows the secret.
widescreen black-and-white photography, the rigidly static camera, the underlit interiors and the inclusion of a number of night or storm scenes, underscores a mood of evil
. And as the villagers become corrupted by their own terror and close in on their own evil act of mistaken vengeance, it begins increasingly to seem like Mademoiselle is an actual embodiment of demonic passions sent by greater powers to visit the punishments of Job
on an unsuspecting village—a test they thoroughly fail to pass.
based on a story by Jean Genet
, Mademoiselle could pass as an art film
, a sexual thriller, or subtle horror; it is seen by many critics as a work of art.
département of central France
. The entire production team stayed in what accommodation they could find locally for the duration of the shoot.
The director always saw Jeanne Moreau
as the lead. He originally wanted Marlon Brando
for the male lead, but scheduling could not be arranged.
1968 - Nominated: BAFTA Film Award: BAFTA Best British Cinematography (B/W) (Cinematographer David Watkin nominated).
The film was entered into the 1966 Cannes Film Festival
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- British
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Tony Richardson
Tony Richardson
Cecil Antonio "Tony" Richardson was an English theatre and film director and producer.-Early life:Richardson was born in Shipley, Yorkshire in 1928, the son of Elsie Evans and Clarence Albert Richardson, a chemist...
. The dark drama won a BAFTA award and nomination and was featured in the 2007 Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
French film retrospective. Jeanne Moreau
Jeanne Moreau
Jeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
plays an undetected sociopath
Psychopathy
Psychopathy is a mental disorder characterized primarily by a lack of empathy and remorse, shallow emotions, egocentricity, and deceptiveness. Psychopaths are highly prone to antisocial behavior and abusive treatment of others, and are very disproportionately responsible for violent crime...
, arsonist and poisoner, a respected visiting schoolteacher and sécretaire at the Mairie in a small French village.
Synopsis
As the film begins, Mademoiselle is shown opening floodgateFloodgate
Floodgates are adjustable gates used to control water flow in flood barriers, reservoir, river, stream, or levee systems. They may be designed to set spillway crest heights in dams, to adjust flow rates in sluices and canals, or they may be designed to stop water flow entirely as part of a levee or...
s to inundate the village, so there's never a moment in the film that the audience believes she's a normal upstanding citizen, as the villagers do. But the film provides little insight into her motivation; she has no cause for revenge, and acquires no material gain or increased standing in the community from her furtive crimes.
Out of pure prejudice, an Italian woodcutter (Manou, played in Italian by Ettore Manni
Ettore Manni
Ettore Manni was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 107 films between 1952 and 1979. He was born and died in Rome, Italy after accidentally shooting himself.-Selected filmography:* Two Nights with Cleopatra...
) is the chief suspect. Sexual tension arises between Mademoiselle and Manou during a series of encounters in the forest. Finally, after a night of somewhat perverse intimacy in the fields, she falsely denounces him and the villagers hack him to death.
In a final scene, as Mademoiselle is leaving the village for ever, it is made obvious that the woodcutter's son (and Mademoiselle's former pupil) knows the secret.
Cinematography
The noirFilm noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
widescreen black-and-white photography, the rigidly static camera, the underlit interiors and the inclusion of a number of night or storm scenes, underscores a mood of evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
. And as the villagers become corrupted by their own terror and close in on their own evil act of mistaken vengeance, it begins increasingly to seem like Mademoiselle is an actual embodiment of demonic passions sent by greater powers to visit the punishments of Job
Job (Biblical figure)
Job is the central character of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible. Job is listed as a prophet of God in the Qur'an.- Book of Job :The Book of Job begins with an introduction to Job's character — he is described as a blessed man who lives righteously...
on an unsuspecting village—a test they thoroughly fail to pass.
Script
Having a script written by Marguerite DurasMarguerite Duras
Marguerite Donnadieu, better known as Marguerite Duras was a French writer and film director.-Background:...
based on a story by Jean Genet
Jean Genet
Jean Genet was a prominent and controversial French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. Early in his life he was a vagabond and petty criminal, but later took to writing...
, Mademoiselle could pass as an art film
Art film
An art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
, a sexual thriller, or subtle horror; it is seen by many critics as a work of art.
Production
The film was shot on location in and around the tiny village of Le Rat, in the CorrèzeCorrèze
Corrèze is a department in south central France, named after the Corrèze River.The inhabitants of the department are called Corréziens or Corréziennes according to gender.-History:...
département of central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The entire production team stayed in what accommodation they could find locally for the duration of the shoot.
The director always saw Jeanne Moreau
Jeanne Moreau
Jeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
as the lead. He originally wanted Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
for the male lead, but scheduling could not be arranged.
Cast
- Jeanne MoreauJeanne MoreauJeanne Moreau is a French actress, singer, screenwriter and director.She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française...
... Mademoiselle - Ettore ManniEttore ManniEttore Manni was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 107 films between 1952 and 1979. He was born and died in Rome, Italy after accidentally shooting himself.-Selected filmography:* Two Nights with Cleopatra...
... Manou - Keith SkinnerKeith SkinnerKeith Skinner is a British actor who worked in cinema and television.His career began when he starred as Bruno in the 1966 film Mademoiselle, and more notably perhaps in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo and Juliet as Balthasar, Romeo's manservant and trusted friend...
... Bruno - Umberto Orsini ... Antonio
- Georges Aubert ... René
- Jane Beretta... Annette (as Jane Berretta)
- Paul Barge ... Young Policeman
- Pierre ColletPierre ColletPierre Collet was a French film actor. He appeared in 104 films and television shows between 1943 and 1977.-Selected filmography:*Thérèse Étienne * Greed in the Sun * Mademoiselle...
... Marcel - Gérard Darrieu ... Boulet
- Jean GrasJean GrasThe Jean Gras was a small scale French automobile manufactured by a concern based in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris from 1924 until 1927.The company showed two cars at the Paris 1924 Salon, the Type A had a 1494 cc overhead camshaft engine and the Type B a 1200 cc pushrod overhead valve unit....
... Roger - Gabriel Gobin ... Police Sergeant
- Rosine Luguet ... Lisa
- Antoine Marin ... Armand
- Georges DoukingGeorges DoukingGeorges Douking was a French stage, film, and television actor. He also directed stage plays such as the premier presentation of Jean Giraudoux's Sodom and Gomorrah at the Théâtre Hébertot in 1943. He is perhaps best known for his role in the surreal 1972 comedy The Discreet Charm of the...
... The Priest - Jacques Monod ... Mayor
Awards
1967 - Won: BAFTA award for Best Costume Design in B&W [British] (Costume designer Jocelyn Rickards won).1968 - Nominated: BAFTA Film Award: BAFTA Best British Cinematography (B/W) (Cinematographer David Watkin nominated).
The film was entered into the 1966 Cannes Film Festival
1966 Cannes Film Festival
The 19th Cannes Film Festival was held on May 5-20, 1966. To honour the festival's 20th anniversary, a special prize was given.-Jury:*Sophia Loren *Marcel Achard *Vinicius de Moraes *Tetsuro Furukaki...
.