DRIVE INTO THIS SUMMER’S SEXIEST MYSTERY.
British crime writer Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) stays temporarily at her publisher’s villa in France and becomes intrigued with his sexy, brazen daughter (Ludivine Sagnier). An international breakthrough for François Ozon, where the story turns into a slightly twisted version of Sarah’s crime novels. Rampling (who reunited with the director after Under the Sand (2001)) makes us believe in Sarah’s quirks and motivations, and Sagnier got her breakthrough as the mysterious girl by the pool. A fancy-looking psychological drama with great acting, a very pleasant atmosphere and a bunch of people who enjoy sex, wine and a little murder on the side. What else can you ask for?
2003-France-Britain. 102 min. Color. Produced by Olivier Delbosc, Marc Missonier. Written and directed by François Ozon. Cast: Charlotte Rampling (Sarah Morton), Ludivine Sagnier (Julie), Charles Dance (John Bosload), Marc Fayolle, Jean-Marie Lamour, Mireille Mossé.
Last word: “I read Agatha Christie when a child, yes, I do like her novels. But with this movie I thought more about Ruth Rendell and Patricia Highsmith. I’m particularily interested in the discrepancy of outward appearance, what these women looked like, and what they wrote about. Highsmith is always concerned with exchange of identities. That’s important to me, and I’ve used it in several films.” (Ozon, interview by Gerald Peary)
