Poulet au vinaigre (1985)
(Cop au Vin)
Country: FR
Technical: col 110m
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Jean Poiret, Stéphane Audran, Lucas Belvaux, Michel Bouquet, Pauline Lafont
Synopsis:
In a small Normandy town, the 'postier' defends his invalid mother's property from the predations of a trio of local bigwigs. When his petty reprisals draw unexpected blood, however, a certain Inspector Lavardin, whose methods are less than orthodox, arrives on the scene.
Review:
Like a Gallic Agatha Christie tale, this comeback film in fact merely reworks the usual elements of a Chabrol thriller (caustic dialogue, small-town setting, bourgeois murder, Hitchcock homage - the Cuno mother and son are dead ringers for Master and Mrs Bates). The first half is sluggish, but things pick up once Poiret turns up, with his linguistic refinements and habit of beating up suspects. Lafont also injects some piquant humour, though the explanation of the mystery leaves questions unanswered. Good solid stuff, its success gave rise to a sequel, Inspecteur Lavardin.
(Cop au Vin)
Country: FR
Technical: col 110m
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Jean Poiret, Stéphane Audran, Lucas Belvaux, Michel Bouquet, Pauline Lafont
Synopsis:
In a small Normandy town, the 'postier' defends his invalid mother's property from the predations of a trio of local bigwigs. When his petty reprisals draw unexpected blood, however, a certain Inspector Lavardin, whose methods are less than orthodox, arrives on the scene.
Review:
Like a Gallic Agatha Christie tale, this comeback film in fact merely reworks the usual elements of a Chabrol thriller (caustic dialogue, small-town setting, bourgeois murder, Hitchcock homage - the Cuno mother and son are dead ringers for Master and Mrs Bates). The first half is sluggish, but things pick up once Poiret turns up, with his linguistic refinements and habit of beating up suspects. Lafont also injects some piquant humour, though the explanation of the mystery leaves questions unanswered. Good solid stuff, its success gave rise to a sequel, Inspecteur Lavardin.
(Cop au Vin)
Country: FR
Technical: col 110m
Director: Claude Chabrol
Cast: Jean Poiret, Stéphane Audran, Lucas Belvaux, Michel Bouquet, Pauline Lafont
Synopsis:
In a small Normandy town, the 'postier' defends his invalid mother's property from the predations of a trio of local bigwigs. When his petty reprisals draw unexpected blood, however, a certain Inspector Lavardin, whose methods are less than orthodox, arrives on the scene.
Review:
Like a Gallic Agatha Christie tale, this comeback film in fact merely reworks the usual elements of a Chabrol thriller (caustic dialogue, small-town setting, bourgeois murder, Hitchcock homage - the Cuno mother and son are dead ringers for Master and Mrs Bates). The first half is sluggish, but things pick up once Poiret turns up, with his linguistic refinements and habit of beating up suspects. Lafont also injects some piquant humour, though the explanation of the mystery leaves questions unanswered. Good solid stuff, its success gave rise to a sequel, Inspecteur Lavardin.