This French psychological
drama is filled with subtext and sexual tension, with a main character who will
keep you wondering right until the end. Ten year old Mélanie, the
working class daughter of butchers, is dedicated to playing the piano and goes
for the conservatory entrance exam. There she is distracted by a judge, disrupting
her performance and blaming the judge for her failure at the one thing that matters
to her. Move forward ten years, and Mélanie (Déborah François)
manages to get herself a position as a nanny in the home of Jean (Pascal Greggory)
and Ariane (Catherine Frot) Fouchécourt. Seemingly calm and cool, she really
only has one thing on her mind - revenge. It is Ariane who was the judge Mélanie
fixated on a decade ago. In this sophisticated, upper class home, Ariane
is really an emotionally fragile woman who lacks confidence in her playing skills.
Everything falls into place as Mélanie becomes her page turner for an upcoming
concert, gaining her trust and developing a sexual tension between them. A
friend recognizes that Ariane is falling in love with Mélanie, not knowing
that the pianist is being set up for a very hard fall. Or is Mélanie now
obsessed in a different way, looking for a sexual relationship with the woman
she idolizes? Fabulous performances from both women make it all the more interesting. |