The moral conflict that increasingly enters Joe's mind reaches a head as he is accused of crimes much greater than his con game. His acceptance of his punishment for the crimes he is ambiguously linked to has a politically correct feel, but I found that it drains the emotion out of the films ending, especially after the long build. I felt a little deflated at the end. Casting of all the villagers is very rich with lots of characters fully drawn, not just background. Technically, this is one of the best looking and sounding films out now.
Excellent period feel.
The film looks great and has a great conceit - we get snippets of so many various lives via the 'screen tests' that a wonderful emotional tapestry is woven. Joe's character undergoes a much more startling and audience-fulfilling transformation than the aforementioned Girl 6. I only wish that the film hadn't ended on what seemed a rather abrupt summation. In the Signoret role is Sharon Stone as Nicole, a Math teacher and lover of Guy, who also seemingly lusts after Mia. Guy's a complete lout, so his wife and lover decide to join forces and do him in.