Une exécution ordinaire

"An ordinary performance" is an example of these fascinating and repellent films at the same time.

Fascinating by its perfectly controlled oppressive atmosphere, the uniqueness of its narrative subject, its sobriety, its conciseness. Fascinating by the historical subject, that is, the terror of the Soviet communist regime in the immediate post-war period and the Stalinist dictatorship of the end of the reign.

Repellent due to the parasites that spoil the scenario (the janitor), the implausibility in certain behaviors (the near absence of the husband's reaction, for example), and especially the very unequal play of the actors.

If André Dussollier plays an excellent and credible Stalin, Marina Hands is quite different, whose theatrical game fails to convince.

All in all, this remains a film worth seeing, historically and philosophically interesting, and captivating.