The popular television presenter, Christian Legagneur, is a man loved by his millions of fans. He is famous for the prizes given in the program to older contestants who are rewarded with exotic trips to faraway places. As any celebrity worth his fame, Legagneur is flattered when Roland Wolf decides to write his biography. The emcee proposes to do it in his country estate.
Nothing prepares Roland for what he is about to find in the château-like setting. There are some other guests who seem to be part of Legagneur's coterie of friends. But Roland in reality is in pursuit of someone who disappeared a long time ago. Finding Catherine, a mysterious young woman afflicted with a strange nervous disease at the estate poses a lot of questions Legagneur is not ready to answer.
"Masques" directed by Claude Chabrol was shown recently on cable as a retrospective of his work. The film was a collaboration between the director and Odile Barski, who contributed a lot to his work. The film plays like an English mystery. It is elegant, and nothing seems to be what it appears. There are things Legagneur did not want to reveal, much less have a snoop among his household.
One good excuse to watch "Masques" is Philippe Noiret, who as Christian Legagneur, is sly, as well as amusing. This man, a product of the media, has secrets better left untold. His collaboration in his own biography backfires on him. Robin Renucci is fine as Roland. The great Bernadette Lafont, who worked with M. Chabrol in many films, adds a bit of fun to the proceedings. Lovely Anne Brochet has the most difficult part of Catherine.
"Masques" is mildly entertaining, but it is not in the same league of of of the best work of the great Claude Chabrol.
Nothing prepares Roland for what he is about to find in the château-like setting. There are some other guests who seem to be part of Legagneur's coterie of friends. But Roland in reality is in pursuit of someone who disappeared a long time ago. Finding Catherine, a mysterious young woman afflicted with a strange nervous disease at the estate poses a lot of questions Legagneur is not ready to answer.
"Masques" directed by Claude Chabrol was shown recently on cable as a retrospective of his work. The film was a collaboration between the director and Odile Barski, who contributed a lot to his work. The film plays like an English mystery. It is elegant, and nothing seems to be what it appears. There are things Legagneur did not want to reveal, much less have a snoop among his household.
One good excuse to watch "Masques" is Philippe Noiret, who as Christian Legagneur, is sly, as well as amusing. This man, a product of the media, has secrets better left untold. His collaboration in his own biography backfires on him. Robin Renucci is fine as Roland. The great Bernadette Lafont, who worked with M. Chabrol in many films, adds a bit of fun to the proceedings. Lovely Anne Brochet has the most difficult part of Catherine.
"Masques" is mildly entertaining, but it is not in the same league of of of the best work of the great Claude Chabrol.