Le rideau cramoisi

This is perhaps Astruc's greatest film, and for many years it has been not available. It can be seen on YouTube and I marvelled yet again at the superb performances of Jean-Claude Pascal and Anouk Aimee, as they played lovers for one night with consequences that are both unexpected and shattering to watch. He is an army officer who stays overnight and she is his hosts daughter. End of spoilers. It was highly regarded when it first came out, and despite its short length one comes away from it totally fulfilled by its mystery and the superb use of black and white. I cannot praise it highly enough, but it is still a rarity and quite unique in its form of narration.