Patrice Chereau made La Reine Margot, an historical drama of sublime brilliance. The subtlety he brings to the creation of this multi-layered ensemble matches the intimacy of the camerawork. There are no introductions, few clues as to who fits where in the jigsaw of the artist's life. Slowly relationships shift and slip into place. Behind the facade of good manners and the ritual of paying respects, other stories are bursting like boils - the pain of living, the anguish of dependency, the uncontrollable desire of the flesh.
Performances catch in the throat, almost too perfect to bear.
Vincent Perez's transsexual is remarkable. Jean-Louis Trintignant, in the dual role of the dead man and his brother, reminds those who have forgotten the triumph of his early years that talent matures with age. Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, as the estranged partner of the artist's nephew, burns in the mind's eye with an intensity that blinds critical objectivity. Copyright 1997-2001 insideout.co.uk. All rights reserved.