It is a shocking loss to cinema that this unique and beautiful film is almost completely lost. Is it because it is too short ? Is it because the English, and the French themselves do not see that it is masterly in the way that it ' narrates ' the film on to the screen ? It is also unique that it is a film of silence without silence. It is almost literally written as you watch the haunting way the army officer played superbly by Jean-Claude Pascal sees the daughter of his hosts and seduces her, and the terrible consequence that follows. A night of ' love ' that brings together the union of both passion and death. The images disturb, and excite at the same time and the pace quickens as if a pen is racing across the pages of the story. I believe it is Alexandre Astruc's best film and yet it has disappeared from view. I treasure it, but sadly an aura of indifference surrounds it. A crying shame and why on earth is no one seemingly aware of its loss ? And last but not least Anouk Aimee plays the young woman. Doesn't that count for anything ? A great actor and one of France's most beautiful women.
