Applauded the thriller with Emmanuelle Seigner and Eva Green directed by the Maestro of Frantic.
“It’s easier to direct actresses than to live with them.” That’s Roman Polanski speaking, the director of a beautiful thriller about a writer, Delphine, who is seduced by a mysterious woman, Elle.
That’s why Delphine is magnificently portrayed by his wife Emmanuelle Seigner, directed with passion by the great author of Rosemary’s Baby and Carnage.
Based on the homonymous novel by Delphine de Vigan published by Jean-Claude Lattes editions, it tells with tension the story of a successful woman who has published many well-received novels.
When a fan appears, she gradually enters Delphine’s life, creating an ambiguous friendship that unsettles Delphine, who is charmed but also troubled by this intrusion into the intimacy of the beautiful lady who manages to settle into the writer’s apartment. Delphine receives threatening letters and other disturbing items. Delphine’s health will also be questioned.
With a balanced style and a never intrusive camera, Polanski delivers a solid thriller immersed in Delphine’s mental universe, to which Emmanuelle Seigner brings the right expression and proper tone.
“I have never made a film where two women were in opposition,” says Polanski. “The thriller aspect is what attracted me first. I felt a little on my turf.
Olivier [Assayas, the screenwriter] helped me enormously. You know, I’ve adapted several books or plays, but what concerns me most is not to stray too far from the work I’m adapting. When I was young, I was often very disappointed by film adaptations of books I loved. Often the story was no longer recognizable. Here, Olivier succeeded in reducing the book to a screenplay with the first try, from a book that must be 500 pages but lost nothing of the book.”
Olivier Assayas explained that he had been “flattered that Roman thought of him,” and noted he placed himself “at the service of Roman Polanski’s vision. I am between Delphine de Vigan and Roman, that’s my place on this film.” When asked about the fact that she had almost never filmed in French until now,
Eva Green said: “It’s Roman! He’s one of the greatest directors on this planet, it’s hard to say no! And also this story, this derailing passion was a very attractive subject.”
And she added: “What really pleased me is the stranger nature of the character. Not smooth. We constantly ask ourselves the question: does she exist, does she not exist? How do we bring this kind of character to life?”
by Roberto Schinardi
