The Kimstim Collection: L'Enfer

The images and subject matter of this unusual, mesmerizing film, "L'Enfer" based on Henri-Georges Clouzot's final script and adapted and directed by French Hitchcock, Claude Chabrol are breathtakingly beautiful. After seeing his "La Ceremonie" I became a hardcore Chabrol fan embarassingly for the first time that I can remember. Clouzot is also a favorite of mine and usually posthumous marriages of this kind could fare better like Traufaut's script of "The Little Thief." The acting is superb. I do not know what the fuss is about the "DVD transfer" as I ordered a used copy that was perfect and everything is gloriously preserved to watch again and again, it is that brilliant.

Descriptions of the movie I read before buying it referred to Paul as succumbing to green-eyed jealousy or being driven crazy with jealousy, but early on in the movie he has a conversion with a disembodied voice concerning his wife's actions. Hearing voices (and especially carrying on a conversion with them) is one of the major signs of insanity and paranoid delusions is also a symptom. Paul is already insane, I believe the reviewers I read have it backwards. Jealousy is not driving Paul mad, his insanity is driving his jealously. About half way through the movie he seems to also be seeing things which are not there, or more precisely he seems to be seeing scenes in a movie about the hotel which are totally different than what is actually on the screen. This is in addition to the fantasies he often has about what his wife is up to with other men. He speaks of suicide more than once, and eventually he claims that everybody is sick except him. Two more traits of an insane person. His jealously is getting worse because his insanity is getting worse, not the other way around.Paul's character is well thought out and well acted. I only had two problems with this movie worth mentioning. First, how stupid Paul acted at times. That is not to say there was anything wrong with the movie, or how his character was portrayed. It was in fact appropriate for the character and the movie portrayed it quite well. It is due to my personal likes and dislikes in movies. I simply loose interest in a movie where a character is acting this stupid regardless of the reason. Second, I found the ending confusing, you might say that I was having about as much trouble telling reality from fantasy as Paul. Of course that was probably the intent, so good job. Just the same I prefer endings where I know what happened.A little off subject, but still worth mentioning, there are a couple things in this French movie which you would not see in an American movie. In one scene where Paul is watching a motor boat on the lake (and stalking his wife) there is a person on the beach completely nude. It is in the distance but it appears to me to be a teenage boy. He has his back to the camera and during the scene puts on a pair of shorts. He is far away and a little out of focus and I probably would not have even noticed except that this is one of the sequences in which Paul is being stupid and I was loosing interest. Also, in one scene when Paul and Nelly are talking, she is drying off their young son after his bath (he is about four-years-old). In this scene whenever the camera is on her, which is about half of the time, the boy is seen fully nude facing the camera. American cinema would not show that even though (or maybe because) he is only four.

SUPER QUICK SHIP & DVD plays just fine! THANKS for the DEAL!

hey I agree with most here: however, with one exception. Emmanuelle' Beart, is one of the most extrodinere' performers to come around in a long time. Shes not only beautiful, but talented. She took this ho hum movie, and made it so realistic. Lighten up, critics.. its only a movie.

excellent

This DVD has worse image quality than a VHS copy of a copy of a copy. This kind of thing doesn't usually bother me, but here it's just unbelievable how bad the transfer quality is. Every image is muddy and dark, while the whites are overexposed and the colors are over-saturated. It's virtually unwatchable (and, again, I am someone who reads comments like this and figures at least we have a copy of the movie, so who cares, but in this case it's very, very bad).Avoid the DVD with ASIN: 1572522739 on the page and the title in red letters. There's a newer release of this film here: The Kimstim Collection: L'Enfer. Maybe it's better.

Reality, or fantasy is the immediate question posed in Claude Chabrol's L'Enfer. The man who carries the mantel the"French Hitchcock" Chabrol delivers a taut, bare to the bones thriller.When husband Paul (Francois Cluzet) begins to believe his beautiful, flirtatious wife Nelly (Emmanuelle Beart) is fooling around, his psychological demise is quick, and intense.Chabrol brings us the story primarily from Paul's point of view, leaving many of the ambiguities, as well as the uncertainties of this tale to our own imagination.From a script of Henri-Georges Clouzot (Diabolique, Wages of Fear) written in 1964, Chabrol updates the original (Clouzot never finished his version due to failing health, he died in 1977) giving it the contemporary setting and dialogue, but maintaining a style of presentation consistent with the thrillers of that era.I love this early exchange: Nelly: "You're following me, Paul." Paul: "Why would I, is there any reason?" Nelly: "No, but if you keep it up, there will be."Emmanuelle Beart shows why she is one of the world's great stars. American audiences have yet to have the best of Beart, who's English speaking debut (Mission:Impossible) seemed uneven, almost clumsy. But here she delivers on all cylinders: a beautiful seductress. Calculating? Unfaithful? We'll see.Highly recommended.

Absolutely enjoyed this film. She's really in her element in this movie. Not just a "bit part" but a full movie devoted to her in it. Great acting by all actors and a good storyline. It's a shame that she's cast as a bit part player in todays Hollywood movies such as Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise. She deserves better...she should stay with French films.

C'est un chef d'œuvre 🌸 L'histoire de descendance, la confiance perdue qui fait aliénation entre les deux à jamais 👫

Must admit I'm smitten with Emmanuelle Beart's exquisite looks (especially in her younger days) - AND - this film really displays her loveliness to the max! The story follows the (ultimately ill-fated) romantic entanglements of a youthful hotelier and his wife (Emmanuelle!) as they get married, have a kid, and are running a successful tourist establishment where all seems perfect - UNTIL - the husband starts to have misgivings about his wife's marital fidelity. Once the doubts enter his mind he rapidly descends into an increasingly dismal jealous obsession that destroys their marriage and business. It isn't a pretty story - but it is very gripping - with excellent performances all around. As previously noted - Ms Beart looks fantastic thru it all - so - despite the rather low-key plot line - it is well worth several viewings. For those that may be interested in such - there are a couple of flashes of Emmanuelle in the buff and even a little bondage scene as the paranoid husband attempts to keep his wife at home by tying her to the bed! All good stuff.

A seemingly perfect marriage between Emmanuelle Beart and Francois Cluzet, begins to break down when Cluzet starts to suspect (without any real evidence) that his wife is having an affair. This paranoia threatens to develop into violence.Directed by that French master of suspense, Claude Chabrol and written by Henri-George Clouzot (who also wrote Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques), it can wander a little in some of the earlier scenes, but Cluzet's performance, as his character's madness develops, is superb.Beart is excellent, but Cluzet dominates the film.The DVD also has a fascinating interview with Chabrol.

Claude Chabrol a repris et fini ce film dans une approche moins expérimentale que H-G Clouzot sans toutefois le finir réellement. L'enfer est la description clinique de la jalousie maladive qui détruit votre entourage et vous détruit de l'intérieur. Sujet difficile à filmer sans aucun doute. Les acteurs sont parfaits. Emmanuelle Béart irradie de sensualité et de joie de vivre ( au début du film ), François Cluzet joue parfaitement sa descente aux enfers jusqu'à entendre des voix et avoir des hallucinations. On retrouve de façon surprenante Marc Lavoine dans le rôle du bel homme qui tourne autour d'Emmanuelle Béart. Il faut dire que dans ce film, elle a les yeux revolver. : -) Pour Chabrol, le diagnostic est posé. La jalousie maladive est la porte d'entrée vers une autre maladie mentale beaucoup plus grave. Un bon Chabrol à voir ou revoir qui n'est toutefois pas à la hauteur de ses plus grands films ( La femme infidèle, Les biches... ). Vu en DVD. Image de qualité.

Excellent film que j'ai du renvoyer car je l'avais en double mais je recommande vivement de le posséder, en un seul exemplaire cela suffira!