Thérèse Desqueyroux – DVD review

Claude Miller, 2012

Artificial Eye

The crushing message of François Mauriac’s 1927 novel is that the landed classes will close rank for the sake of prestige and money – even if it means hushing up a crime.

That crime is triggered by Thérèse (Audrey Tautou), who feels trapped in a stifling arranged marriage. Scenes with her teenage pal and a free-spirited hunk in his sailboat highlight the joy she has lost. Unfortunately, the late Claude Miller’s film succeeds only in putting viewers through much the same level of boredom that Thérèse endures.