Seen for the first time in January 2013.
At first glance "Violette" did not exactly cater to my sensibilities. It seemed at first what I might describe as bourgeois or perhaps middlebrow. But once the crime is committed and the arrests are made, it becomes quite a good movie. The story really is shocking, and Violette, intensely played by Isabella Huppert is an astonishing and memorable character. Chabrol depicts the sensationalism surrounding her trial in all of its humanity-is-little-more-than-apes-flinging-shit-at-each-other ignominy.
And upon her conviction when Violette calls the panel of jurors bastards who disgust her... I don't even know how to react to that. Cause on the one hand, it seems a fair indictment of humanity in general at that point, but on the other hand, there's a fairly sizable plank in her eye. She's a complex character, toward whom we're surprised to feel some sympathy despite her seeming monstrousnes which is on reminiscent of the main character in Camus's "L'etranger."
All said, "Violette," which is based upon a true story was a nicely layered and thoughtful film that told its story and depicted its characters with remarkable grace and subtlety. Grade B.
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