La céremonie

Perhaps I am something of a cultural chauvinist, for now and then I have had enough of American films and get excited if a European film sounds appealing. Unfortunately that does not happen very often, but La Cérémonie got good reviews, so after one wasted trip we finally managed to see it. Ironically, it did not turn out to be a great cinema experience.

There is not much crime about La Cérémonie, which is based on a crime novel, until the violent and surprising finale. The withdrawn Sophie is hired as a maid by the wealthy Lelièvre family, who at first are very pleased with her diligence and abilities. The praise gradually wanes, however, when Sophie strikes up a friendship with the cheeky and outgoing post-office clerk Jeanne. The girls both have a murky past. Perhaps they committed murder, perhaps not. That is only revealed at the end.

Jeanne teaches Sophie to hate her employers, for their wealth is undeserved. Sophie herself feels the pain of having to hide her illiteracy in a family where art and culture are highly prized. This class hatred ends in a bloodbath in which the entire Lelièvre family loses their lives. There is no evidence, but fate can mete out the punishment itself.

La Cérémonie is never boring despite its leisurely pace. It is an enigmatic film in which you never get really close to the main characters. At first that is fascinating; eventually irritating. The film is somewhat unpleasant, just as "Heavenly Creatures" was, because the points of identification are Sophie and Jeanne, the two mass murderers, who never become truly sympathetic. Nor does the Lelièvre family, but they are not downright unsympathetic either. They simply do not deserve to die. It is impossible to understand Jeanne's and Sophie's twisted view of justice.

The film is at its best in its first half, while the build-up to the climax is still under way and the characters are still credible and intriguing. Despite my reservations I have to give the film five stars, because it does not serve up ready-made solutions on a plate but dares to refrain from opening all the doors completely.