In the fiftieth film of his long and distinguished career, French director Claude Chabrol demonstrates his abiding interest in probing the lives of the bourgeoisie and revealing their multiple rituals, obsessions, indiscretions, foibles, and hypocrisies. Francois (Benoit Magimel) has just returned home to the Bordeaux region of France after four years of practicing law in America. He is picked up at the airport by his father, Gerard (Bernard Le Coq), who is a successful pharmacist. There is an unresolved tension between the two of them. Francois learns that one of the big changes in the family is that his stepmother Anne Charpin-Vasseur (Nathalie Baye) has become active in politics and is running for mayor.
Meanwhile at the family residence, Aunt Line (Suzanne Flon), the elderly owner of the place, has prepared a extravagant meal to celebrate Francois's homecoming. The one who is most elated to see him is Anne's daughter Michele (Melanie Doutey), who is studying psychology at college. She's had a crush on him for years and lets her affections come to the surface while helping him unpack. The two cousins ask Aunt Line if they can use her beach house and whiz away happily. Gerard, who is deeply against Anne's foray into politics, engages in extramarital affairs with female patients.
The family rallies together when Anne's young running mate Matthieu (Thomas Chabrol) shares a vile tract that has been circulating in the community aimed against Anne and her disreputable relatives. It turns out that 60 years ago, Aunt Line was accused of killing her father, a Nazi sympathizer. This is only one strand of scandals and deaths in the family's past. Anne carries on bravely trying to convince voters in a low rent complex to vote for her. Both Michele and Aunt Line are convinced that Gerard and not some right winger is behind the nefarious flyers but they can't prove it.
On election night, there is a murder that throws a spotlight on the ways in which the sins of past generations can come back to haunt families. Chabrol has created a fascinating study of how messy family secrets can spoil people's lives.
Screened at the 41st New York Film Festival, October 2003.
