You keep hoping it's a lecherous old man's tongue-in-cheek self-parody, but there is little doubt Chabrol is dead serious as this story of a twenty-something weather girl's obsession with a prominent writer three times her age proceeds. She (Ludivine Sagnier) falls for the old geezer (François Berléand) within the first five pages of the script, and for no reason. The remainder of the script takes her from the frying pan of social stigma into the fire of manic depression. I can't help feeling sorry for her, but as I examine my feelings, I find I empathize with the actress for being cast in such a lousy movie, rather than with her character for what she goes through. Think "Stealing Beauty" meets "To Die For", co-scripted by Henry Miller and Milan Kundera. Utterly disgusting. Watch out for saucy sisters Joséphine (Clémence Bretécher) and Eléonore (Charley Fouquet) though, the only self-determined girls in a parade of pinup puppets on Chabrol's string.
Review of A Girl Cut in Two
