In the opening scene of this stylized French film set in 1912, a successful businessman, Jean (Pascal Greggory), emerges from a train and in a relaxed but boastful voiceover shares the pleasurable contours of his life. He has been married to Gabrielle (Isabelle Huppert) for ten years and is proud of her as a well-bred and intelligent woman. Since they have very little intimacy with each other, they have turned to giving large and lavish parties as a way of expressing their sociability and standing in the community. Their house is filled with works of art, and their every need is attended to by a loyal staff of servants. Jean smokes his cigar in contentment — until he arrives home and finds a note from Gabrielle saying that she has left him for another man.
Gabrielle is based on a short story by Joseph Conrad, and its literary sensibilities come through in the dialogue as Jean responds to the shock of his wife's betrayal. Director Patrice Chereau and cinematographer Eric Gautier make the most of the emotional firefight that takes place when, much to Jean's surprise, Gabrielle returns home that evening. In some chats with her maid, she reveals a paucity of happy moments in her marriage. In her angry and bitter exchanges with Jean, she makes it clear that she felt abandoned early in their relationship and since then has been very lonely. Her lover turns out to be the one man Jean despises among the 80 or so friends and acquaintances who frequent their parties.
This psychodrama is filmed exquisitely and the revelations that come from both characters about their feelings is fascinating. But neither of them is very likable and both are emotionally illiterate. Perhaps that is precisely the point that Conrad had in mind and that Chereau wants us to consider as we ponder the quality and the authenticity of our own inner life of feelings.
Special features on this DVD include interviews with Patrice Cherau, Isabelle Huppert, Pascal Gregory; deleted scenes with Patrice Chereau commentary.
Screened at the 43rd New York Film Festival, October 2005.
