Mi Crimen

With the BERLINALE 2002 classic 8 WOMEN, Francois OZON has already proven that excellent films can be made from tabloid pieces.

In Paris in the 1930s, two friends live in unsuccessfulness and abject poverty. One is an untalented actress (Nadia TERESZKIEWICZ), the other an unemployed lawyer (Rebecca MARDER). One day the actress is mistakenly suspected of having murdered an influential producer. Although she is innocent, she admits to the murder and is brought to justice. Represented by her friend, she achieved an acquittal. A triumph for both women! From now on there will be a hail of offers and mandates for both. But then the sophisticated Odette Chaumette (great as always: GOLDEN GLOBE winner and ACADEMY AWARD nominee Isabelle HUPPERT) appears: a faded silent film star who has not mastered the transition to sound films...

This charming morality play is based on a play by Georges BERR and Louis VERNEUIL. In 1937, Hollywood had already become aware of the clever material: TRUE CONFESSION (1937) with Carole LOMBARD and Fred MacMURRAY!

Established vedettes (film stars in French) like Fabrice LUCHINI, Dany BOON and Andre DUSSOLIER, but also young stars like Edouard SULPICE and Felix LEFEBVRE shine in the OZON version. In France, the film has already attracted more than a million visitors to the cinemas.

Once again a convincing piece of cinematic fun from France!

Madeleine Verdier is a struggling actress in 1930s Paris. She is accused of murdering a famous producer and is acquitted with the help of her best friend, a young lawyer. Her newfound fame and success become too much for her to handle, and she eventually spirals out of control.

Set in Paris during a time of great social and political upheaval, The Crime is Mine depicts the city's glamorous nightclubs and seedy underworld with great accuracy. Director François Ozon captures the atmosphere of the time, reflecting the impact of the First World War and the rise of fascism in Europe.

This stylish and witty comedy-drama explores themes of ambition and the dangers of getting what you want. The film's tone is light and humorous for the most part, but it takes a darker turn in the second half as Madeleine's downfall begins.

Nadia Tereszkiewicz delivers an excellent performance as Madeleine, the ambitious and reckless actress, supported by a strong cast, including Isabelle Huppert as Madeleine's best friend and Fabrice Luchini as the charming and manipulative lawyer who defends her in court.

François Ozon is a master of stylish period drama, and he directs The Crime is Mine with a sure hand, creating a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film. The film's score by Philippe Rombi is a perfect match for the visuals and tone, reflecting Madeleine's own dual nature. The cinematography by Manuel Dacosse is also sumptuous and evocative, capturing the beauty and glamour of Paris in the 1930s, as well as the city's darker side.

The film is full of symbolism, such as the recurring image of the red dress that Madeleine wears, representing her ambition and desire to be seen. The production design is impeccable, recreating the world of 1930s Paris in meticulous detail.

The Crime is Mine maintains a brisk pace, with witty and sharp dialogue that is perfectly suited to the characters and the setting. Ozon keeps the audience guessing until the very end, making it a fun and entertaining film with a lot to say about the dangers of ambition and the importance of staying true to oneself.

One minor criticism of the film is that it feels a bit overlong at times, with a few scenes that could have been cut without affecting the story. The ending also feels a bit too neat and tidy for my taste.

I would recommend The Crime is Mine to fans of stylish period dramas and witty comedies. It is a fun and entertaining film that delivers a powerful message about the dangers of ambition.

I have to say that this is really fast and funny, right from the very beginning. The pretty and splendid girls, Nadia Tereskiewicz and Rebecca Marder are wonderful and his judge Fabrice Luchini just as funny. We know there is a killing but we are not absolutely sure what is going on, but it is amusing and very fast, back and forward all the time. We have the court, just as much fun as that and then we have a breather and we realise that it is half way through. Then it starts again probably even more fast but for me it becomes like a farce and a bit silly BUT at this point we get Isabelle Huppert. She is always excellent and with this one she plays it farcically and she is really good. For me the second half is not really so amazing as the first but certainly just as fast and Huppert is remarkable even awe-inspiring.

I laughed out loud almost in every scene, it's so simple and funny! Just loved it!

The feel is similar to Eight Women, even feels like it is a sort of a sequel, however the setting is different. The storyline turns unexpectedly, it's in a way similar to those absurd theater comedies though it doesn't look so. The acting is superb, grotesque-like style, especially when Isabelle Huppert appears all of a sudden, and then André Dussolier. And of course, under this being pseudo-light and superficial, there's definitely issues raised (and mocked, Ozon style): gender stereotypes, corrupt judicial system, personal values, etc. Enjoyed every minute of it and highly recommend!

Directed by Francois Ozon, it makes you look forward to seeing the film. Does it work? Yes, mostly. The cast is fantastic, down to the smallest part.

A young actress is being promised a part in a play, but she has to indulge the producer's wishes to be his lover. He tries to make advances, but she runs and escapes the mess.

The next day the police arrives at the apartment of the actress, where she is living with her friend, who's a lawyer, and have practiced for one year. The producer havr been killed.

To advance her career the two girls makes a plan, where she confess to his murder, counting on being acquitted, and then she'll have a name and be successful.

But then something unexpected happens, the real murder contacts the girls. She's an actor, out of luck getting parts in films, it's the era of films with sound, it's 1935. She was big in the silent film years, not now. She's demanding 300.000 Francs to keep quiet.

Now, the rest you must see for your self. It's a quite entertaining and fun film. It's not amongst the best, and it wouldn't even have been as good as it is, if Isabelle Huppert, one of the very finest actors in the world, wasn't playing thr real murderess. In fact all the actors do a fine job. Plus, it's always a pleasure to see Andre Dusollier.